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P R E E 1) I X 6 S 



^^TION^L 



DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION, 



CONVENED AX 



CHARLESTON, S C, APRIL 28, 1860. 






WASHINGTON : 

THOMAS McGILL, PRINTS: 
1860. 



( 



0^ 



PROCEEDINGS. 



FIRST DAY.. 

Charleston, April 23, 1860. 

In accordance with the call of the Democratic National Committee, the Delegates to the 
National Convention assembled at 12 o'clock, on Monday, April 23, I860, in the Hall of the 
South Carolina Institute, at Charleston. 

Hon. DAVID A. SMALLEY, of Vermont, Chairman of the Democratic National Commit- 
tee, called the Convention tu order. 

Mr. H. R. JACKSON, of Georgia, nominated Francis B. Flournoy, of Arkansas, as Presi- 
dent of the Convention pro tern. Carried unanimously. 

Messrs. H. R. Jackson, of Georgia, and G. W. McCook, of Ohio, were appointed a Com- 
mittee to conduct the temporary Presiding Officer to the Chair. 
Col. FLOURNOT, on taking the Chair, said: 

Gentlemen of the Convention : I thank you most sincerely for the honor you have done me, 
and I shall endeavor so to demean myself as to bring about a speedy organization of this 
body; and, I hope, in a satisfactory manner. 

The Rev. CHRISTIAN HANCKEL. D. D , of Charleston, delivered an impressive prayer, 
the Delegates rising ani staudiog during its delivery. 

Mr. FISHER, of Virginia. We are not yet organized, as I understand, nor has a Secre- 
tary yet beeu appointed; I therefore propose the name of William F. Ritchie, of Virginia, as 
temporary Secretary of the Convention. Carried unanimously. 

Mr. FISHER. I now ask the presiding officer to read a letter which I will send to the 
Chair, and in connection with which I have a resolution to offer. 

Gov. J. A. WINSTON, of Alabama, objected to the reception of the communication until 
the Convention was permanently organized. 

Mr. FISHER. The letter relates to the organization. 

The PRESIDENT. The Chair decides that if it relates to the organization it is in 
order. 

Mr. FISHER took the Secretaries' stand, and was about to read the communication, 
when — 

Mr. JOHN COCHRANE, of New York, claimed to be heard one moment before the let- 
ter was read. 

Mr. FISHER. That is the very issue involved. 
[Cries of " What is the communication?"] 

Mr. FISHER. It is from the Chairman and Secretaries of the contesting Delegation 
of New York. 

The CHAIR. The gentleman from Virginia is out of order. The Chair decides that the 
communication, being only from a contestiug Delegation not now recognized by the Con- 
vention, is out of order. The gentleman from New 5Tork (Mr. Cochrane) has been awarded 
the floor. 

Mr. JOHN COCHRANE. I move, Mr. President, that the rules of the last National 
Convention be adopted as the rules to govern this body. 
The motion was unanimously adopted. 



Mr. GEORGE W. MoCOOK, of Ohio, following! 

Resolved, That a committee of one, irom each State, he selected by the respective dele- 
gations, whose duty it shall be to select permanent officers of the Convention. 

Mr. BARKSDALE, of Mississippi, obtained the floor, and moved the following as a sub- 
stitute for Mr. McCook's resolution : 

Resolved, That a Committee of Credentials be appointed by the several Delegations 
respectively, to be composed of one from each State, in which tbere is no dispmed Dele- 
gation, whose duty it shall be to report to the Convention the Delegates that are entitled 
to seats on this floor. 

Mr. W. S. BARRY, of Mississippi, asked that the roll be railed. The Convention could 
not proceed with any regularity until the Convention had ascertained who are and who are 
not Delegates. 

Mr. McCOOK. I accept the amendment proposed by the gentleman from Mississippi, with 
the understanding that it is to be confined to the Delegates whose seats are contested en- 
tirely. 

Mr. CESSNA, of Pennsylvania, moved to amend by striking out all after the enacting 
clause in the original resolution, and inserting as follows : > 

Resolved, That there now shall be appointed two committees: each to consist of one 
member from each State, to be selected by the respective Delegations thereof: one com- 
mittee on Permanent Organization, and the other on credentials: and that in determining 
the controversy in regard to the disputed seats of the Illinois Delegation, the members of 
the Committee on Credentials of that State shall not be permitted to vote thereon ; and in 
determining the controversy from the State of New York the members of the Committee on 
Credentials from that State shall not be permitted to vote. 

Mr. CESSNA moved the previous question, which being ordered, the vote was taken upon 
the above substitute by Suites, and the same was adopted, as follows: 



Maine , 

New Hampshire. 

Vermont 

Massachusetts .... 

Rhode Island 

Connecticut 

New Jersey , 

Pennsylvania 

Delaware 

Maryland 

New York 

Virginia 

North Carolina... 
South Carolina... 

Georgia 

Alabama 

Louisiana 



Nays. 



15 



Missouri 9 

Indiana 13 

Illinois 11 

Ohio 23 

Mississippi 

Texas 

Florida 3 

Tennessee ". 12 

Kentucky 12 

Wisconsin . .; 5 

Michigan 6 

Arkansas ! 

California 2 

Oregon 8 

Minnesota 4 



Nays. 



244 54 

Mr. FISHER. We protest against the vote of the State of New York beiug received and 
counted here. 

The CHAIR. The protest is not now in order. 

Mr. FISHER. We desire to enter it on the journal. 

The original resolution, as amended, was then adopted. 

Mr. CESSNA moved to reconsider the vote, and to lay that motion on the table. 
Agreed to. 

Mr. MATTHEWS, of Mississippi, offered the following: 

Resolved, That the Delegates from the States of New York and Illinois, whose seats are 
contested, be requested not to participate in the proceedings of this body, until the Com- 
mittee on Credentials shall have determined and reported to the Convention which of said 
contestants are entitled to seats. 

Mr. CLARK, of Missouri, raised the point of order that a similar motion had been offered 
and the Convention had virtually rejected it. 

The CHAIR. The point of order is not well taken. 

Mr. CESSNA moved to lay the resolution on the table. 

Mr. CLARK, of Mississippi, objected to the delegations from New York voting on this 
question, on the ground that tin , in interest. 

The vote to lay the resolution on the tubl« was then demanded by States, and resulted 
as follows : 



Teas. JVoy*. I Teas. .V"'.:. 

Maine 8 ... ] Missouri 9 

: imp-hire.. 5 ... I Indiana 13 

nt 5 ... Illinois 11 

Massachusetts 13 ... < > i s i . > 23 

d i ... 7 

Connecticut 6 ... Tex is 4 

New Jersey 7 ... Florida 3 

Pennsylvania 27 ■■■ Tennessee 12 

Delaware 8 ... : Kentucky 12 

Maryland 7 ... Wisconsin 5 

New York 85 ... , Iowa 4 

Virginia 15 ... Michigan 6 

North Carolina 10 •■• Arkansas 4 

South Carolina 8 ... California 4 

Georgia 10 Oregon 3 

Alabama 9 Minnesota..- 4 

Louisiana 6 

2-Va 44 

The roll of States was then called, and the following Committees were appointed : 

On Perman ion. — Virginia. John Brannon ; Indiana, S. K. Wolfe: Connecti- 

cut, A. C. Lippit: Minnesota, J. Travis Rosser ; Michigan, A. C. Baldwin; South Carolina, 
B. H. Wilson; Oregon, John R. Limerick : New York, Sidney F. Fairchild ; Louisiana, E. 
LaSere ; Rhode Island, Joha X. Francis ; Massachusetts. Chester W. Chapin : Delaware, 
John B. Penuiugton; Iowa, E. IT. Thayer; New Jersey, Robert Hamilton ; Illinois, A. M. 
Herrington ; Texas, F. R. Lubbock; Pennsylvania, .John Cessna: Ohio, Geo. W. Houk ; 
Florida, Thomas J. Eppes ; California, G. W. Patrick: Mississippi, Charles Clark : Arkan- 
sas. Dr. Joha J. Steerman; North Carolina. Wm.A. Moore: Maryland, John R. Emory: 
Missouri, Col. Sam. B. Churchill: Georgia, IIou. John H. Lumpkin; Tennessee, Thomas 
M. Jones: Kentucky, Colbert Cecil; Wisconsin, E. S. Bragg; Alabama, A. B. Meek; Ver- 
niont, H. E Stoughton ; New Hampshire, Robert S. Webster; Maine, Wm. H. Burrell. 

On Contested Seats from New York and Illinois. — Virginia, E. W. Hubbard'; Indiana, S. 
A. Hall; Connecticut, James Gallagher; Minnesota, Henry H. Sibley; Michigan, Benj. 
Follett; South Carolina, B. F. Perry; Oregon, Lansing Stout; New York, D. DeWolf; 
Louisiana, F. H. Hatch ; Rhode Island, Geo. H. Brnwne ; Massachusetts, Oliver Stevens : 
Delaware, Wm. G. Whitely; Iowa, D. 0. Finch: New Jersey, Albert R. Spear; Illinois, 
Wm. J. Alien; Texas, Gen. E. Green: Pennsylvania, H. M. North; Ohio, Jas. B. Steed- 
man; Florida, C. E. Dyke; California, John S. Dudley; Mississippi, Wm. S. Barry; 
Arkansas, Van H. Manning; North Carolina, R. R. Bridges; Maryland, Wm. S. Gittings ; 
Missouri, John W. Krum ; Georgia, Julian Hartridge; Tennessee, Wm. H.- Carroll ; Ken- 
tucky, G. T. Wood: Wisconsin, P. II. Smith; Alabama, W. M. Brooks; Vermont, Stephen 
Thomas ; New Hampshire, Aaron P. Hughes ; Maine, Chas. D. Jameson. 

Mr. S. H. BUSKIRK, of Indiana, moved the following: 

Resolved, That the States be called in their order, and that the list of Delegates from 
each State be furnished to the Secretary, and, whenever there is a contest, the papers 
relating to such be referred to the Committee on Credentials. 

Adopted, and the list of Delegates handed to the Secretary, by the President of the dif- 
ferent Delegations. 

Mr. LAWRENCE, of Louisiana, moved as an amendment, to add at the end of the resolu- 
tion that the communication from the New York contesting Delegation in the hands of the 
Chairman be read, and then referred to the Committee on Contested Seats. 

Mr. COCHRANE moved to ameid, by referring the letter without reading, and called 
the previous question ; which was ordered. 

Mr. Cochrane's amendment was adopted, and the resolution of Mr. Buskirk, amended 
so as to refer the New York letter to the Committee on Contested Seats without reading, 
was then agreed to. 

The roll of States was then called, and the list of Delegates present was handed in. 

Mr. PAYNE, of Ohio, moved a Committee of one from each State on resolutions, and 
that all resolutions relating to the platform be referred to that Committee on presentation 
without debate. 

Pendiag the question on the resolution of Mr. Payne, the Convention, on motion of Mr. 
J. L. Dawson, of Pennsylvania, adjourned. 



SECOND DAY. 

The Convention reassembled at 10 o'clock, in the Hall of the Institute. 
Mr. JOHN CESSNA, of Pennsylvania, Chairman of the Committee, made the following 
report of Permanent Officers of the Convention : 

FOR PRESIDENT : 

Hon. CALEB CUSHING, of Massachusetts. 



FOR VICE-PRESIDENTS AND SECRETARIKS 



MAINE. 

Vice-President — Thomas D. Robinson. 
Secretary — C. Record. 

NEW HAMPSHIRE. 

Vice-President — Daniel Marcy. 
Secretary — George A. Bingham. 

VERMONT.,- T ; 

Vice-President — Jasper Rand. 
Secretary — P. W. Hyde. 

MASSACHUSETTS. 

Vice-President — Isaac Davis. 
Secretary — B. F. Watson. 

RHODE ISLAND. 

Vice-President — Gideon Bradford. 
Secretary — Amasa Sprague. 

CONNECTICUT. 

Vice President — Samuel Arnold. 
Secretary — M. R. West. 

NEW JERSEY. 

Vice-President — William Wright. 
Secretary — John C. Rafferty. 

NEW YORK. 

Vice-President — Erastus Corning. 
Secretary — Edward Cooper. 

PENNSYLVANIA. 

Vice-President — Thomas Cunningham. 
Secretary — Franklin Vansant. 

DELAWARE. 

Vice President— W. H. Ross. 
Secretary — John H. Buley. 

MARYLAND. 

Vice-President; — W. P. Bowie. 
Secretary — E. L. F. Hardcastle. 

VIRGINIA. 

Vice-President — 0. R. Funston. 
Secretary — Robert H. Glass. 

NORTH CAROLINA. 

Vice-President — Bedford Brown. 
Secretary — L. W. Humphrey. 

SOUTH CAROLINA. 

Vice-President — B. H. Brown. 
Secretary — Franklin Gaillard. 

GEORGIA. 

Vice-President — James Thomas. 
Secretary — J. J. Dimond. 

ALABAMA. 

Vice-President — R. G. Scott. 
Secretary — N. H. R. Dawson. 

MISSISSIPPI. 

Vice-President — James Drane. 
Secretary— W. H. H. Tyson. 



LOUISIANA. 

Vice-President — R. Taylor. 
Secretary — Charles Jones. 

OHIO. 

Vice-President — David Tod. 
Secretary — W. M. Stark. 

KENTUCKY. 

Vice-President — B. Spalding. 
Secretary — Robert McKee. 

TENNESSEE. 

Vice-President — J. 0. C. Atkins. 
Secretary — John R. Howard. 

INDIANA. 

Vice President — Isaac C. Elston. 
Secretary — Lafayette Devlin. 

ILLINOIS. 

Vice-President — Z. Casey. 
Secretary — R. R. Goo dell. 

ARKANSAS. 

Vioe-President — Francis A. Terry. 
Secretary — F. W. Hoadley. 

MICHIGAN. 

Vice-President — H. H. Riley. 
Secretary — John G. Parkhurst. 

FLORIDA. 

Vice-President— B. F. Wardlaw. 
Secretary — C. E. Dyke. 

TEXAS. 

Vice-President— H. R. Runnels. 
Secretary— Thomas P. Ochiltree. 

MISSOURI. 

Vice-President — Abraham Hunter. 
Secretary — J. T. Mense. 

IOWA. 

Vice-President— T. W. Clagett. 
Secretary — J. W. Bosler. 

WISCONSIN. 

Vice-President — Frederick W. Horn. 
Secretary — A. F. Pratt. 

CALIFORNIA. 

Vice-President — J. E. Dreibelbis. 
Secretary — John S. Dudley. 

MINNESOTA. 

Vice-President— W. W. Phelps. 
Secretary — G. T. Rosser. 

OREGON. 

Vice-President — A. P. Denison. 
Secretary — R. P. Metcalf. 



The Committee further recommend that the rules and regulations adopted by the National 



Democratic Conventions of 1852 and 1856 bo adopted by this Convention for its govern- 
ment, with this additional rule : 

" That in any State which has not provided or directed by its State Convention hoTr its 
vote may be given, the Convention will recognize the right of each Delegate to cast his 
individual vote." 

JOHN CESSNA, Qhairtnari. 

Jons N. Francis, Secrttary. 

Mr. McCOOK, of Ohio, moved that the report of the Committee be accepted, and the 
Committee discharged. Agreed to. . 

Air. McCOOK moved that the report of the Committee be adopted. 

Mr. BARRY, of Mississippi, raised the point of order that the Committee on Permanent 
Organization had no right to report rules, and that so much of their report should be re- 
jectee*. 

The CHAIR The point of order must be settled at once by the Chair. The Convention 
yesterday decided to adopt the rules of the last National Convention, and the Chair is of 
opinion that in reporting rules, the Committee traveled out of its pro vinoe, and that so much 
of its report is out of order. 

After debate, the previous question was moved and ordered. 

The PRESIDENT pro tern. The question now is on the adoption of the report of the Com- 
mittee naming permanent officers of this Convention. 

The report was then adopted with one dissenting voice. 

Several Delegates rose to address the Chair. 

The PR ESI DENT pro tern. No business is in order until the permanent officers now chosen 
have taken their places. 

Mr SAMUELS, of Pennsylvania, obtained the floor, and moved the appointment of a 
Committee of two to conduct the permanent presiding officer to the Chair. Agreed to. 

Messrs Clark, of Mississippi, and Richardson, of Illinois, were appointed such Commit- 
tee. 

The President pro tern, then addressed the Convention as follows: 

Gen'l»?nen of the Cnnvntvm: — Before introducing to you the permanent officers of this 
Convention, I. wish to return to you my thanks for the compliment you have paid me. To 
have presided over such a body as this is indeed honor enough for any gentleman. But 
before retiring, fellow citizens, let me exhort you in your councils to moderation and har- 
mony. Recollect we are brethren engaged in the same great cause — embarked on the same ves- 
sel, and under such circumstances, that one plank of the ship cannot sink without the others 
being submerged. Recollect that we have a common destiny and a common fame. You 
should regard each other as brothers, and not as hostile forces marching forward to hostile 
music, under different flags. The Democratic party has but one flag — the flag of our coni- 
mo'i eountry — and that teaches us fraternal love and unity. Let us then talk no more 
about sections. We know no North, no South, no East, no West, where Democrats are con 
cerned. No; we go on the Democratic principle, that it matters not where a Democrat re 
sides— whether in the land of perpetual flowers, or in the land of eternal icebergs and ever 
lasting frosts — if he be a Democrat, he may embark on the same deck and be protected b\ 
the same stars and stripes. He is a Democrat, and, all other things being equal, he is en 
titled to the same consideration from wherever he may come. Let us talk no more of sec 
tions. It obliterates th<> kindest feelings from our hearts.. To take a sectional view of Dem- 
ocrats, as compared with the broad ground of Democratic brotherly love, regardless of sec- 
tions, is like a sluggish, winding, obscure stream, as compared, with the noble and gigantic 
Mississippi, which rolls onward in its course to the Gulf of Mexico. Fellow-citizens, out- 
duty here is plain. We come here to consider the good of the great Democratic party. 
To effect our object, requires a concentration of efforts. It is our duty to meet all ''Mr 
brethren most cordially, and so to combine all interests as to secure the effect and advantages 
of a concenti-ation of effort. That concentration of effort may well be illustrated by the 
course of the great Father of Waters, the river which commences at it's source in the moun- 
tains, in springs and streams so small, that a hunter would scarcely widen his steps to 
cross them But, running on, it mingles with other streams, yet so shallow that the mother 
duck can scarcely swim her callow young in its waters. Then rolling onward, it mingles 
with yet other streams, until, at last, it forms the great Mississippi river — so d-:;ep uud so 
vast that all the navies of the world could ride in safety upon its waters. It is your duty 
to gather all these streams of Democracy together into one flood, so that the bark freigKted 
with all our hopes and destinies may ride in triumph and iti safety. [Loud and continued 
applause.] 

The Committee appeared upon the platform with the Hon. Caleb Cushing.who advanced 
and shook hands with the temporary President 



Mr. FLOURNOY. Gentlemen of the Convention: — It is with great pleasure I introduce 
to you, as your permanent presiding officer, Col. Caleb Cushing, of Massachusetts, and 
allow me to congraulate you on the wisdom of your selection. 

Mr. CUSHING spoke as follows: 

Gentlemen of the Convention : I respectfully tender to you the most earnest expression 
of profound graitude for the honor which you have this day done me in appointing me to 
preside over your deliberations. It is, however, a responsible duty imposed, much more 
than a high honor conferred. In the discharge of that duty, in the direction of business 
and debate, in the preservation of order, it shall be my constant endeaver faithfully and 
impartially to officiate here as your minister, and most humbly to reflect your will. In a 
great deliberative assembly like this, it is not the presiding officer in whom the strength 
resides. It is not his strength, but yours — your intelligence; your sense of order; your in- 
stinct of self-respect. I rely, gentlemen, confidently upon you, not upon myself, for the 
prompt and parliamentary dispatch of the business of this Convention. 

Gentlemen, you have come here from the green hills of the Eastern States — from the rich 
States of the imperial centre — from the sun-lighted plains of the South: — from the fertile 
States of the mighty basin of the Mississippi — from the golden shores of the distant Oregon 
and California — [loud cheers!] — you have come hither in the exercise of the highest func- 
tions of a free people, to participate, to aid, in the selection of the future rulers of the 
Be ublic. You do this as the representatives of the Democratic party — of that great 
party of the Union, whose proud mission it has been, whose proud mission it is, to main- 
tain the public liberties — to reconcile popular freedom with constituted order — to maintain 
the sacred, reserved rights of the sovereign States — [loud and long continued applause] — to 
stand, in a word, the perpetual sentinels on the outposts of the Constitution. [Loud cheers.] 
Ours, gentlemen, is the motto inscribed on that scroll in the hands of the monumental 
statue of the great statesman of South Carolina, "Truth, Justice, and the Constitution." 
[Loud cheers.] Opposed to us are those who labor to overthrow the Constitution, under 
the false and insidious pretence of supporting it ; those who are aiming to produce in this 
country a permanent sectional conspiracy — a traitorous sectional conspiracy of one-half 
the States of the Union against the other half; those who, impelled by the stupid and half 
insane spirit of faction and fanaticism, would hurry our land on to revolution and to civil 
war ; those, the banded enemies of the Constitution, it is the part — the high and noble part 
of the Democratic party of the Union to withstand ; to strike down and to conquer ! Aye ! 
that is our part, and we will do it. In the name of our dear country, with the help of God 
we will do it. [Loud cheers.] Aye, we will do it, for, gentlemen, we will not distrust 
aiir*>-/ res ; we will not despair of the genius of our country ; we will continue to repose with 
undoubting faith in the good Providence of Almighty God. [Loud applause.] 

Gentlemen, I will not longer detain you from the important business of the Convention. 
Allow me a few moments for the purpose of completing the arrangement with the elected 
officers of the Convention, and then the Chair will call upon you for such motions and 
propositions. as may be in order before the Convention. [Applause.] 

The Convention took five minutes' recess. 

Upon the Convention being again called to order, 

Mr. JACKSON, of Georgia, rose to a question of privilege. That question referred to 
the Delegatiou from the State of Georgia, on whose behalf he claimed for one moment the 
nttention of the Convention. 

The PRESIDENT. The gentleman will state his question of privilege. 

Mr. JACKSON. It is as to the right of the State of Georgia to a larger number of repre- 
sentatives on the floor than the regular number allowed her. The qtu-stion as to the 
representation of Georgia had been referred back, by the Committee on Credentials, to 
the Delegates from the State, on the ground that while a greater number of Delegates 
than were regularly entitled to seats claimed admission to the Convention, there was yet 
nut a contest as to the seats. The State of Georgia had appointed forty Delegates t< 
to Charleston, at two Conventions which had been held at different times in that State. 

The PRESIDENT. The subject cannot now be brought up in order : but any motion the 
gentleman from Georgia has to make will be in order whenever the report of the Commit- 
tee on Credentials shall be presented to the Convention. 

Mr. BARRY, of Mississippi, moved that the rules of the Democratic Convention of 1856 
be adopted as the rules of this, and on this he called the previous question. 

Mr. MONTGOMERY, of Pennsylvania, raised the point of order that the report of a Com- 
mittee on Organization, embracing the question of rules, was yet before the Convention 
Thy resolution, therefore, on the same subject, was not in order. 

The PB KtffDENT. Tb«> question pending before the- Convention when th« permsneut 



officers took their places, was on the remaining portion of the report of the Committee on 
Organization : that question is the one now in order. 

Mr. BARRY. Then I move to strike out from the report the additional rule. 

The vote by States was demanded, and the roll was called, with the following result : 

Teas. XaysA Teas. Xay*. 

Maine 8 Louisiana 6 

New Hampshire. 5 [Mississippi 7 

Vermont -5 ilexas 4 

Massachusetts .' 6 oJJArkansas £ Si 

Rhode Island 4 jMissouri 3 7~ 

Connecticut 6 Tennessee 12 

New York 85 jKentucky 12 



New Jersey 7* (Ohio 

Pennsylvania .*..... 14 10J 

Delaware 1£ l| 

Maryland 3i 4-| 

Virginia 15 

North Carolina 7 3 

South Carolina 8 

Georgia 10 

Florida 3 ... 

Alabama 9 



Indiana 18 

Illinois 11 

Michigan...., b' 

Wisconsin 5 

[owa 4 

Minnesota 4 

California 2$ 1J 

Oregon 3 

103J 197 

At the request of Mr. CLARK, of Mississippi, the report of the Committee on Organiza- 
tion was again read, and adopted by an almost unanimous vote. 

Mr. STUART, of Michigan, moved to reconsider that vote, and to lay that resolution on 
the table. Adopted. 

Mr. PAYNE, of Ohio, called for the consideration of the resolution for the appointment 
of a committee of one from each State to report a Platform, and that all resolutions relating 
to the Platform shall be referred to that Committee without debate. Upon that resolution 
he called the previous question. 

Mr. BARLOW, of Arkansas, desired to offer an amendment, and asked that it be read 
for information of the Convention. 

Mr. PAYNE. I object to the reading, and demand that the call for the previous question 
shall be put. 

The previous question was ordered, and the resolution adopted. 

^Ir. PAYNE moved to reconsider that vote, and to lay the resolution on the table. 
Adopted. \ 

Mr. BURROW, of Arkansas, offered the following : 

Resolved, That this Convention will not proceed to ballot for a candidate for the Presi- 
dency until the platform shall have been adopted. 

The PRESIDENT. The first business in order will be the call of the States, that the 
names of the Committee on Resolutions may be handed in. The question will then be taken 
on the motion of the gentleman from Arkansas. 

The following names were then reported as the Committee on Resolutions : 

Committee on Resolutions and Platform. — Maine, A. M. Roberts ; New Hampshire, Win. 
Beven ; Vermont, E. M. Brown ; Massachusetts, B. F. Butler ; Rhode Island, C. S. Brad- 
ley; Connecticut, A. G. Hazard; New York, Ed. Cogswell; New Jersey, Beuj. William- 
son; Pennsylvania, A. B. Wright; Delaware, J. A. Bayard; Maryland, B. S.Johnson; 
Virginia, J. Bai-bour ; North Corolina. W. W. Avery ; South Carolina, J. S. Preston ; 
Georgia, J. Wingfield ; Florida, J. B. Owens; Alabama, John Erwin ; Louisiana, R. A. 
Hunter ; Mississippi, E. Barksdale ; Texas, F. S. Stockdale ; Arkansas, N. B. Burrow ; 

Missouri, *; Tennessee, Sam. Milligan : Kentucky, R. K. Williams ; Ohio, H. B. 

Payne; Indiana, P. C. Dunning; Illinois, 0. B. Fickiin ; Michigan, G. A. N. Lathrop: 
Wisconsin, A. S. Palmer; Iowa, B. M. Samuels; Minnesota, J. M. Cavanaugh; California, 
Austin E. Smith ; Oregon, James J. Stevens. 

The question recurring on the resolution of Mr. Burrows, of Arkansas, 
Mr. BISHOP called for the previous question. 

Mr. HAMILTON, of Maryland, moved to lay the resolution on the table. 
The vote was called by States, and the motion to lay the resolution on the table was 
t ost by the following -rote; 



10 

Fccrs. Nays., Fta*. Nay*. 

Maine 8 ... Louisiana Q 

New Hampshire 5 Mississippi... 7 

Vermont 5 Texas 4 

Massachusetts 11 Arkansas '1 

Rhode Island 4 Missouri 

Connecticut 2 4 Tennessee 12 

New York 35 jKentucky : 1*2 

New Jersey 7 Ohio 23 

Pennsylvania 17 10 Jlndiana 13 

Delaware 3 Illinois 11 

Maryland 5£ 2} Michigan 6 

Virginia , 15 ^Wisconsin .... 5 

North Carolina 10* Iowa k 4 

South Carolina 8 Minnesota 4 

Georgia 10 California 4 

Florida 3 lOregon 

Alabama 9 j 

i 83} 270} 

The question recurring on the adoption of the resolution, the call for the previous ques- 
tion waa seconded, and the previous question ordered. 

The resolution was then adopted by an almost unanimous vote, unly two or three voic-.s 
being heard in the negative. 

Mr. BISHOP, of Connecticut, offered the following : 

Resolved, That no member of this Convention be allowed to speak more than once on the 
same question, nor for a longer lime than fifteen minutes. 

Mr. AVE^Y, of North Carolina, raised the point'of order that the Convention wafl acting 
under the rules of the House of Representatives, and that the one hour rule was, 'herefore, 
the rule of the Convention. This resolution would consequently lie an alteration »f the 
rules, and must lie over one day, 

The PRESIDENT decided the point of order well taken, and the mover of the resolution 
gave Dotitse that he should call it up for adoption to-morrow. 

Mr. FISHER, of Virginia, moved the following: 

Resolved, That the Presiding Officer of this Convention be and he is hereby requested to 
invite the ministers of the. different denominations in this city to open the daily proceed- 
ings with prayer. 

Adopted. ♦ 

The motion was temporarily waived. / / 

Mr. EWING, ofTenne«aee, «ugge-»ted rh-H the several resolutions to be Referred to the 
Oommittee on Platform be h m lei to the Chairman of that Committee. Agreed to. 

Judge MEEK, of Alabama, presented to the Convention the platform o: his State, wh'cn 
was vef.-n-ed. under the ruie. 

Mr. (^EA.RCE. of Louisinla, handed in a resolution from hi- State, which w 
under the rue. 

On motion of Mr. PBARCE, (he Convention then adjourned until 10 a. • 



T H i R D D A Y . 

MORNING SESSION. 

The Convention was called to order a few minutes after 10 o'olock, 

The proceedings were opened with prayer by the Rev. Dr. BacumaN. 

The calling of the roll was dispensed with, and no Committee being ready to report, the 
resolution offered yesterday, hy Mr. Bishop, of Connecticut, thai i be permitted 

to speak more than once on the same question, nor for a longer time than fifteen minute*. 
was taken up. 

Mr. BISHOP called the previous question. 

Mr. BURNETT, of Alabama, asked thai the resolution might be bo modi 
Convention might, at its pleasure, extend the time, without requiring unani . ous consent. 



11 

Mr. BISHOP. T will so modify it as to allow two-thirds of the Convention to extend 
the time, if they so desire. 

Mr. BURNETT. I am willing to accept the resolution thus modified. 

The PRESIDENT. The gentleman from Connecticut, Mr. Bishop, has o&lled before the 
Convention his resolution, which is as follows: 

Resolved, That no member in this Convention be allowed to speak more than once upon 
the same question, nor for a longer time than ten minutes. 

Upon this the previous question has been called and seconded, and a division of the 
question was demanded. 

The resolution consists of two distinct members. The question will first be upon the first 
member of the resolution, which is similar to the existing rule of the Convention. 

•Mr. WALKER. I move to amend the resolution by adding thereto as follows: "Pro- 
vided, it shall not apply to any discussion on the Platform to be reported to this Conven- 
tion by the Committee on Resolutions." The Chair comprehends my proposition? 

The' PRESIDENT. Perfectly, but the amendment will not now be in order. The call 
has been made for the previous question, and it is for the Convention to decide whHher it 
will second the call. A division of this question has also been called for, which will bring 
the vote first on the first branch of the resolution of the gentleman from Connecticut. 

The call for the previous question was seconded. 

The Convention then refused to order the previous question by the following vote, taken 
by States: 

teas. Nays, j Teas. Nays. 

Maine 8 ... Louisiana 6 

New Hampshire 5 j Mississippi 7 

Vermont 5 j Texas 4 

Massachusetts 13 j Arkansas 4 

Missouri 9 



Rhode Island 4 

Connedticut 1 5 

New York 35 

New Jersey 7 



Pennsylvania 27 

Delaware 3 

Maryland 8 

Virginia 15 

North Carolina 10 

South Carolina S 



Tennessee.. -,.12 

Kentucky 7.11 1 

Ohio 23 

Indiana 13 

Illinois 11 • ... 

Michigan 6 

Wisconsin 5 

Iowa 4 

Minnesota 4 

Georgia 10 I California 4 

Florida 3 | Oregon 3 

Alabama..... 9 ■ 

I 121 182 

Mr. WALKER. I now move my amendment. 

Mr. BISHOP, in order to terminate the discussion, would adopt the amendment proposed 
by the gentleman from Alabama, so as to incorporate it into the original resolution, and 
on that he would call the previous question. 

The previous question was then ordered, and the resolution, as amended by Mr. Walker, 
so as to apply the fifteen minute rule to all discussions except on the Platform, was adopted 
almost unanimously. 

The Convention adjourned to 4 o'clock in the afternoon. 

AFTERNOON SESSION. 

The Convention reassembled at 4 o'clock p. m. 

Mr. WRIGHT, of Massachusetts, moved that the Committee on Resolutions be instructed 
to report in print, so that every member of the Convention might have an opportunity to 
see exactly what the resolutions are when they are presented to the Convention. He 
called the previous question. 

The call for the previous question was seconded and sustained, and the resolution 
unanimously adopted. 

Mr. LOWRIE moved the following resolution : 

Resolved, That a Committee of one from each State be appointed by the Delegates thereof, 
to report the names of one person from each State to constitute the Democratic National 
Cdmmittere, tb Continue in office until iiheir successors are appointed, wbftse duty it shall 



12 

be, in addition to other things, to fix the time and place for the holding of the next Na- 
tional Convention, and said first named Committee shall also consider and report. 

Mr. LAWRENCE, of Louisiana, moved that the resolution be laid over one day. 

Mr. BURNETT, of Alabama, moved to amend by adding, '-and said Committee shall 
not issue tickets of admission to the floor of the Convention to any Delegates whose seats 
may be contested." 

Mr. PUGH moved to refer the resolution to a Committee of thirty-three, composed of 
one from each State. He moved the previous question. 

The call for the previous question was seconded and ordered, and the resolution, as 
amended by Mr. Pugh, was adopted. 

Mr. KRUM, of Missouri, Chairman of the Committee on Credentials, then presented the 
following report and resolutions, upon which the Committee had agreed, and he claimed 
for it the attention of the Convention : 



MAJORITY REPORT. 

To the National Democratic Convention: 

Mr;. President: Your Committee on Credentials, immediately after their appointment, 
entered upon the discharge of the duties assigned them, and carefully examined the cre- 
dentials of the several Delegates to this Convention. 

Your Committee find that ail the States of the Union, except the States of Massachu- 
setts, Maryland, Illinois, and New York, are represented in this Convention by Del 
duly elected in the several States by State or District organizations of the Democratic 
party, and your Committee append to this report, as a part thereof, full lists of the Dele- 
gates so selected. 

Your Committee further report that there were contesting claimants to the seats held by 
the Delegations in the following cases, viz: 

In the fffth Congressional District of Massachusetts. 

In the Fourth Congressional District of Maryland. 

In the State of Illinois; and 

In the State of New York. 

The contestants in these several cases had a full and impartial hearing before your Ccati- 
mittee, and, after a full consideration of their respective claims, your Committee are of 
opinion that the sitting Delegates in these Districts and States are justly entitled to their 
respective seats. 

All of which is respectfully submitted. 

JOHN M. KRUM, Chairman. 

Resolved, TJaat the sitting Delegates to this Convention from the State of Illinois, of 
whom Col. W. A. Richardson is Chairman, are entitled to their respective 

Resolved, That Cornelius Doherty and K. S. Chap ites representing the Fifth 

Congressional District of Massachusetts, are entitled to their respective - 

Resolved, That F. M. Landham and Robert J. Brent, Delegates representing the Fourth 
Congressional District of Maryland; are entitled to their respectivi 

Resolved, That the Delegates to this Convention from the State of New York, of which 
Dean Richmond is Chairman, are entitled as such to seats therein. 

Adopted. 

Mr. BROOKS. u[ Alabama, presented the following minority report and resolutions: 

; iv REPORT. 

To the Hon- ruble President of the Nationa 

The undersigned, members of the Committee on Credentials, under au imperious 
of duty, are constrained to dissent from the report of the majority of this Committee, and 
respectfully recommend that the two Delegations from the State of New York be au 
ized to select each thirty-five Delegates, and that the seventy Delegates thus selected be 
admitted to this Convention as the Delegates of the New York Democracy, and that they 
be allowed two hours to report their selection — the two Delegations to vote - separately, 



13 

each to be entitled to seventeen voles, the remaining vote of said State to be ens' alter- 
nately bv ilie two Delegations, the sitting members casting it the first time. 

gned,) WILLIAM M. BROOKS, 

Delegate from Alabama. 
JOHN S. DUDLEY, 

Delegate from California. 
E. GREEN, 

Delegate from Texas. 
VAN H. MANNING, 

Delegate from Arkansas. 
JULIAN HARTRIDGE. 

Delegate from Georgia. 
W. S. BARRY, 
v of Mississippi. 

Mr. BROOKS, of Alabama, offered the following resolution : 

Resolved, THat the two Delegations from New York be authorized to select each thirty- 
five Delegates, and that the seventy Delegates thus selected be admitted to this Convention 
as Delegates from the New York Democracy, and that they be allowed two hours to report 
their selection ;' the two Delegations to vote separately^ each to be entitled to seventeen 
votes, the remaining vote to be cast alternately by the two Delegations, the sitting mem- 
bers to cast it the first time. 

Not agreed to : Yeas 5-3, nays 110}. 

Mr. BROOKS moved the adoption of the minority resolution. 

Mr. LAWRENCE, of Louisiana, and Mr. FISHER, of Virginia, seconded the motion. 

The PRESIDENT. The report is accepted by the Convention, but the question before 
the Convention is on the adoption of the resolutions accompanying the majority report. 
The resolution presented by the minority can only be entertained as an amendment. 

Mr. BROOKS. Then I offer it as an amendment to the last resolution of the majority. 

The PRESIDENT. That will be in order. 

A long debate followed, when the main question was ordered. 

The several resolutions reported by the majority were adopted, down to the resolution 
on the New York case. 

The question then being on the amendment of Mr. Brooks, of Alabama, the State of 
Alabama called for the vote by States, and the State of Mississippi seconded the call. 

The amendment was lost by the following vote ; 

Ttos. Nays>\ Teas. JVays. 
Louisiana 6 



Maiue -. 8 

New Hampshire 5 

Vermont 5 

Massachusetts 18 

Rhode Island 4 

Connecticut G 

New York ; 

New Jersey 7 

Pennsylvania 27 

Delaware 3 

Maryland 8 

Virginia 8J 10 

North Carolina 5 4 

South Carolina 8 

Georgia 10 

Florida 3 

Alabama 9 

55 210J 

The question then recurring on the adoption of the resolution of the majority, the same 
was adopted by a large majority. 

The entire Report of the Committee was then adopted. 

Mr. NORTH, of Pennsylvania, moved that the rejected claimants for seats in this Con- 
vention be invited to take honorary seats on this floor. 

The resolution was laid over. 

Mr. MONTGOMERY, of Pennsylvania, said a resolution had been introduced for the 
formation of a Committee to report the next National Convention. He moved the resolu- 
tion be laid over until after the nomination for the Presidency has been made. Agreed to. 



Mississippi 7 

Texas 4 

Arkansas 3 1 

Missouri 1 8 

Tennessee 9 3 

Kentucky 12 

Ohio 23 

Indiana , 13 

Illinois 11 

Michigan 6 

Wisconsin 5 

Iowa 4 

Minnesota 4 

California 3J £ 

Oregon. 3" 



14 

A motion was made to adjourn, but, >u the request of the Chair, it w;if withdrawn. 

The PRESIDENT, i will entreat the Convention to be in order while the painful an- 
nouncement of the death of a member of this Convention is announced. 

Hou. II. E. STOUGHTON, of Vermont. 

Mr. President: I arise, by request of the Delegation from Vermont, to announce to this 
Convention the sad intelligence of the sudden death of Hon. John S. Robinson, one of the 
Delegate* at large from our State, who but yesterday stood in his place upon this floor, 
in his usual health, officiating as Chairman of this Delegation. 

Mr. B. T. WARDLAW, of Florida, offered the following: 

Resolved, That with feelings of deep regret, this Convention has ju-t learned, that one 
of her members. Gov. Robinson, a Delegate from Vermont, has suddenly passed from time 
to eternity, and, in respect to his memory, this Convention will now stand adjourned until 
10 o'clock to-niorruw. 

Capt. ISAIAH RYNDERS, of New York, moved that the Convention on adjourning pro- 
ceed in a body to the Mills House. 

Tlie resolutions of Mr. Wardlaw and Capt. Rynders were adopted, and the.Convention 
then adjourned until II) o'clock to-morrow, and proceeded in a body to attend the remains 
of Governor Robinson to the boat. 



FOURTH DAY. 

MORNING SESSION. 

The Convention was called to order at 10 o'clock. 

The proceedings were opened by prayer by the Rev. Mr. Forrest. 

The resolution of Mr. North, of Pennsylvania, to admit the rejected contestants to the 
floor, being the question pending in the order of uniinfshed business, was passed over, its 
consideration not being called for by the mover. 

Mr. FITZHUGH, of Virginia, introduced the following resolutions, to be submitted to 
the Committee on Platform, which were read in the Convention before such reference : 

Resolved, That the rendition of fugitive slaves and other property by one State to an- 
other is a right secured by the laws of nations, recognized by the Colonies and the mother 
country previous to the Declaration of Independence, by the Courts of Great Britain and 
by the Supreme Court of the United States, and by the law and courts of all civilized 
nations, and a fortiori is the duty of the States of this Confederacy under the Constitution 
and laws. 

Resolved, That the refusal of the Governors of the several States to deliver up fugitives 
from justice and fugitive slaves is an open and palpable violation of the above natural 
and international law and the Constitution and laws of the United States, constituting 
official perjury by such Governors as have evaded or refused to perforin this duty, and if 
persevered in must lead to the severance of the Union. 

Referred, under the rule. 

Mr. HUGHES, of Pennsylvania, offered the the following resolution : 

Resolved, That while recognizing the doctrine that the General Government has no 
power to create in, or exclude from, by legislation, any species of properly in any State 
or Territory, yet we maintain that it is the duty of that Government to provide the Courts 
with ample process and ministerial officers for the protection and enforcement of any 
existing right, or the correction of any wrong, over which said Government, under the 
Constitution, has jurisdiction. 

The resolution was referred to the Committee on Platform. 

Mr. BROWNE, of Pennsylvania, moved the following : 

Resolved, That the citizens of the several States, when emigrating into a federal Terri- 
tory, retain the right to slave and other property which they take with them, until there 
is some prohibition by lawful authority; and that, as declared by the Supreme Court, 
Congress cannot interfere with such right in a Territory, nor can a Territorial Legislature 
do so, until authorized by the adoption of a State Constitution ; and that the attempted 
exercise of such a function by a Territorial Legislature is unconstitutional, and dangerous 
to the p«ace of the Union 



16 

The resolution, after having been read, was referred to the CoiamiUeti on Platform. 

Mr. WALKER., of Alabama. As a pendent, to the resolution of the gentleman from 
Pennsylvania, I offer the following : 

Resolved, That it is the duty of the Federal Government, in all its departments, within 
their constitutional sphere, to afford adequate protection and equal advantage to all de- 
scriptions of property recognized as such by the laws of any of the States, as well within 
the Territories as upon the high seas, and every place subject to its exclusive power of 
legislation. 

Mr BROWNE. I desir,e to say I accept that very cheerfully as an amendment, if it is 
intended as such. 

Mr. WALL, of Tennessee, offered the following resolutions, being the Platform advo- 
cated by that State : 

Be it resolved, That we hereby reaffirm the principles announced in the Platform of the 
Democratic party adopted in Convention at Cincinnati, in June, 1856, and that we hold 
them to be a true exposition of our doctrines on the subjects embraced. 

Resolved, That the views expressed by the Supreme Court of the United States in the 
decision: of the case of " Dred Scott," are, in our opinion, a true and clear exposition of 
the powers reposed in Congress upon the subject of the Territories of the United States, 
and the rights guaranteed to the residents in the Territories. 

liesolved, That the States of the Confederacy are equals in political rights ; each State 
has the right to settle for itself all questions of internal policy ; the right to have or not 
to have slavery, is one of the prerogatives of self-government — the States did not surrender 
this right in the Federal Constitution, and Tennessee will not now do so. 

Resfilved, That the Federal Government has no power to interfere with slavery in the 
States, nor to introduce or exclude it from the Territories, and no duty to perform in rela- 
tion thereto, but to protect the rights of the owner from wrong and to restore fugitives 
from labor ; these duties it cannot withhold without a violation of the Constitution. 

Resolved, That the organization of the Republican party upon strictly sectional principles, 
and its hostility to the institution of slavery, which is recognized by the Constitution, and 
which is inseparably connected with the social and industrial pursuits of the southern 
States of the Confederacy, is war upon the principles of the Constitution and upon the 
rights of the States. 

Resolved, That the late treasonable invasion of Virginia by an organized band of Re- 
publicans, was the necessary result of the doctrines, teachings, and principles of that 
party ; was the beginning of the " irrepressible conjlict " of Mr. Seward ; was a blow aimed 
at the institution of slavery by an effort to excite a servile insurrection ; was war upon 
the South, and as such, it is the duty of the South to prepare to maintain its rights under 
the Constitution. 

Resolved, That if this war upon the constitutional rights of the South is persisted in, 
it must soon cease to be a war of words. If the Republican party would prevent a con- 
flict of arms, let them stand by the Constitution and fulfil its obligations — we ask nothing- 
more, we will submit to nothing less. 

Mr. SEWARD, of Georgia, desired the resolutions might be amended by saying Mr. 
Seward, of New York, not of Georgia. 

The resolutions were referred, the reading being greeted with loud applause. 
Mi-. WOLFE, of Indiana, moved th^tollo wing : 

Resolved, That the Federal Government has no power to interfere with slavery in the 
States, nor to introduce or exclude it from the Territories, and no duty to perform in rela- 
tion thereto, but to faithfully enforce the Fugitive Slave Law and all the decisions of the 
Supreme Court of the United States in regard to all the rights of the people of every State 
and. Territory under the Constitution of the United States. 

The resolution was referred. 

Mr. GLENN, of Mississippi, presented the following : . 

1. A citizen of any State in the Union may immigrate to the Territories with his prop- 
erty, whether it consists of slaves or any other subject of personal ownership. 

2: So long as the territorial condition exists, the relation of master and slave is not to 
be disturbed by federal or territorial legislation ; and if so disturbed the Federal Govern- 
ment must furnish ample protection therefor. 

8. Whenever a Territory shall be entitled to admission into the Union as a State; the 
inhabitants may, in forming their Constitution, decide for themselves whether it shall 
authorize or exclude slavery. 

Thie resolutions war* referred 



L6 

Mr. HORN, of Wisconsin, offered the following: 

Resolved, That the letter of President Buchanan accepting the nomination at Cincinnati . 
■where he explains the Cincinnati Platform in relation to the power of the Territorial 
Legislature on the subject of slavery is eminently sound, and is hereby referred to the 
Committee on Resolutions for their consideration. 

The resolution was referred. 

Mr. MOUTON, of Louisiana, offered the following : 

Resolved, That the Territories of the United States belong to the several States as their 
common property, and not to the individual citizens thereof ; that the Federal Coi - 
tion recognizes property in slaves, and as such the owner thereof is entitled to carry his 
slaves into any Territory of the United States and hold them as property. And in 
the people of the Territories by inaction, unfriendly legislation, or otherwise, should 
endanger the tenure of such property or discriminate against it by withholding thai pr •• 
tection given to this species of property in the Territories, it is the duty of the General 
Government to interpose, by an active exertion of its constitutional' powers, to secure the 
rights of slaveholders. 

The resolution, which was loudly applauded, was referred. 
Mr. GREENFIELD, of Kentucky, offered the following : 

Resolved, That it is the duty of the National Government to provide, by law, for paying 
for such fugitives from labor as, by the illegal interposition of State authorities, the owners* 
thereof may be prevented from receiving under the Fugitive Slave Law. 

Referred to the Committee on Platform. 

Mr. BIDWELL, of California, moved the following : 

Resolved, That our States and Territories on the Pacific, and the Territories 
Great Basin, and of both slopes of the Rocky Mountains, demand the early construction 
of a railroad to connect them with the internal navigation and railway system of the 
Atlantic States ; and that on the ground of postal communication, protection of Territories 
and States, and of military defence, the General Government has accepted authority under 
the Constitution. 

Mr. CRAIG, of Missouri, offered the following : 

Resolved, That the Democratic party are in favor of granting such constitutional aid as 
will ensure the speedy construction of a railroad connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Stains. 

Referred, under the rule. 

Mr. STOUT, of Oregon, offered the following: 

Resolved, That to preserve the Union, the equality of the States must be main. 
and every branch of the Federal Government should exercise all their constitutional 
powers for the protection of persons and property. 

Referred. 

Mr. McCONNELL, of Illinois, offered the following : 

Resolved, That the Federal Government has no power to interfere with slavery in the 
States, or to introduce it or exclude it from the Territories, and has no duty to perform iu 
relation thereto, except to secure the rights of the owner by a return of the fugitive slave. 
as provided by the Constitution. jk 

Referred. 

Mr. SEWARD, of Georgia, presented the following : 

Resolved, That the Constitution of the United States extends to the several States, and 
to every citizen, the full protection of person and property in all the States and Terri- 
tories, and that those rights, as declared and determined by the Courts, under the Consti- 
tution, are to be respected and maintained by the Government of the United States; and 
that James Guthrie, of Kentucky, be the nominee of the Democratic party for President 
of the United States, on this platform. 

The resolution was referred. 

Mr. CESSNA, of Pennsylvania, offered the following: 

Resolved, That the convictions of the Democratic party of the country remain unshaken 
in the wisdom and justice and adequate protection of iron, coal, wool, and the other great 
staples of our country, based upon the necessities of a reasonable revenue system of the 
General Government; and approving of the views.of President Buchanan upon the subject 
of specific duties, we earnestly desire our Representatives in Congress to produce such 
modifications of tne existing laws as the unwise legislation of the Republican party in 1857 
renders absolutely necessary to the prosperity of the great Interests of the country. 



17 

Mr. PU6H moved that any resolutions to be referred shall be presented directly to ths 
Committee, and without being read in the Convention. 

The motion was adopted. 

The PRESIDENT. The resolution of Mr. Pugh, of Ohio, having been adopted, the reso- 
lutions presented prior to that action of the Convention, will now be read, and all subse- 
quent resolutions will then be referred without reading. 

The following resolutions being in possession of the Chair, were then read And referred : 

By Mr. BROOKS, of Alabama : 

Resolved, That it is the duty of the Federal Government, by proper treaty stipulations 
with Great Britain, to secure the return to their owners of fugitive slaves from Canada. 

By Mr. WEST, of Connecticut. 

Resolved, That we fully endorse the Cincinnati Platform, passed by the Democratic Con- 
vention of 1856, and we hereby pledge ourselves to sustain and maintain the same, and the 
Constitution of the United States, as interpreted by the Supreme Court. 

Dr. TARLTON, of Louisiana. I have a resolution here which I much desire to have 
read. 

The PRESIDENT. Under the order adopted by the Convention, it must be referred 
without reading. 

Dr. TARLTON. I ask consent of the Convention. 

The resolution was received, and referred without reading. 

Mr. MONTGOMERY obtained the floor and modified the resolution he had offered yes- 
terday, by resolving that the Committee that shall be appointed to frame rules and regu- 
lations for the future action of the Executive National Committee, be instructed not to 
report until after the nomination of candidates for the Presidency and Vice-Presidency. 

Mr. BIGLER rose to offer an amendment to the proposition of his colleague, Mr. Mont- 
gomery, by adding thereto the following words : 

" And that they shall report, as members of the National Committee, such persons as 
shall have been selected for that purpose by the respective State Delegations for Aeir 
respective States." 

The PRESIDENT. Yesterday, when the question of the formation and powers of the 
next National Committee was before the Convention, Mr. Pugh, of Ohio, had offered an 
amendment to raise a Committee to which all those resolutions should be referred. That 
Committee is to report to the Convention. The Chair is of opinion that these resolutions 
should be referred to the Committee itself, under the resolution adopted yesterday. 

After further discussion between the Representatives from Pennsylvania, 

Mr. SEWARD, of Georgia, in order to settle the debate, moved to refer both resolutions 
to the Committee created yesterday, and on that demanded the previous question. 

The previous question was then ordered. 

Mr. COCHRANE rose for information. Are these resolutions of instructions to the 
Committee raised yesterday, and if so, are we asked to refer such resolutions of instruction 
to the Committee itself? 

The PRESIDENT. The Chair does not regard them strictly as resolutions of instruc- 
tion. The Committee is left free to act as it deems proper. 

The resolution of Mr. Seward, of Georgia, was then adopted, and the resolutions of 
Messrs. Montgomery and Bigler were referred to the Committee to be appointed under Mr. 
Push's resolution. 

The Convention then, on motion of Mr. Wright, of Pennsylvania, adjourned to 4 o'clock 
this afternoon. 



AFTERNOON SESSION. 

The Convention reassembled at 4 o'clock. 

Mr. SALES, of Rhode Island, offered the following resolutions: 

Resolved, That the Committee on Resolutions be instructed to report forthwith to this 
Convention the Platform adopted by the Cincinnati Convention, with the following addi- 
tional resolution : 

Resolved, That we recognize to the fullest extent the principle that to preserve the 
Union, the equality of the States must be maintained, the decisions of the Courts enforced, 
and that every branch of the Federal Government shall exercise all its constitutional powers 
in the protection of persons and property, both in the States and Territories. 

Mr. SALES, upon this resolution, called the previous question. 

Mr. WHITELY asked the gentleman to withdraw the word "instruct." Does he sup- 

2 



18 

poso any gentleman will remain upon a Committee that is •• insirur-ted." Where is the 
object of forming Committees under such circumstances ? 

Mr. H. D. SMITH, of Alabama, moved to postpone the consideration of the resolution 
until to morrow. 

Mr. RUSSEL, of Virginia, raised the point of order that the resolution of Mr. Sales 
related to the Platform. A standing order of the House reiVrs all resolutions of that de- 
scription to the Committee on the Platform, und hence the debate is out of order, and the 
resolution must be referred to ttfe Commit! ee. 

Mr. SCOTT, of Alabama. Will my fellow Democrats allow an old Democrat one word ? 

The PRESIDENT. The gentleman from Alabama will remember that a question of 
order is pending. 

Mr. SCOTT. I know it; but I have never thrust myself unnecessarily upon this Con- 
vention, and I desire at this crisis of our proceedings to say something. A perilous crisis 
is upon us. I appeal to my friend from Rhode Island — for I call him niy friend — not to 
press this question now. It will be a fatal blow to the harmony that ought to prevail 
here. 

The PRESIDENT. The gentleman from Virginia has raised the point of order that tke 
resolution offered by the gentleman from R-hode Island is not debutable. The Convention 
will observe that the resolution involves the whole subject-matter of the proposed Platform 
of the Convention. It prescribes, in detail, what that Platform shall be. The Chair is of 
opinion, therefore, that the matter of the resolution comes within the rule of reference, 
nnd that it is not in order until that, rule be rescinded. The Chair sustains the point of 
order raised by the gentleman from Virginia. 

Mr. MITCHELL, of Alabama, offered the following resolution : 

Resolved, That the Committee on the Platform be, and they are hereby, requested- to 
report without delay to the Convention whether they have made any and what progress 
in adopting a Platform. 

• Mr. MITCHELL said he had offered the resolution to meet the restless disposition mani- 
fested by the Convention at this hour. He was of opinion that the Committee will not 
■agree on a Platform at all. If that be the case, and the Conventionis to be delayed by the 
Committee, to harmonize its views, I say it is well that the Convention should know it at 
once, and dispose of the business of the Platform itself, in its own way. 

Mr. BOWIE, of Maryland, offered the following a* an amendment: 

Resolved, That the Committee on Resolutions be requested to report at this Convention 
the result of its deliberations at 10 o'clock, a. m., to-morrow. 

The Convention was then declared adjourned until 10 a.m., to-morrow. 

The following is the Committee elected by the States to report rules and regulations for 
the guidance of the next National Executive Committee: 

Committee on Rules and Regulations. — Maine. Henry A. Wyman ; New Hampshire, Ansel 
Glover; Vermont, Lucius Robinson; Massachusetts, W. C. N. Swift; Rhode Island, Ed- 
ward F. Newton ; Connecticut, James T. Pratt; New York, Marshal B. Chaniplin ; New 
Jersey, Geo. F. Fort; Pennsylvania, ; Delaware, John B. Pennington ; Mary- 
land, C. S. Stansbury ; Virginia, Wm. F. Thompson; North Carolina, Samuel llargrave ; 
South Carolina, Franklin Gaillard ; Georgia, John A.Jones; Florida, Thos. J. Eppes; 
Alabama, Thos. J. Burnett; Louisiana, E. Lawrence; Mississippi, J. M. Thompson; Texas, 
Josiah F. Crosby; Arkansas, John 8. Stirman ; Missouri, J. M Krum; Tennessee, 



D. P. White; Ohio, Wells A. Hutchins; Indiana, John B. Norman; Illinois, 

Samuel S. Marshall ; Michigan, ; Wisconsin, J. H. Earnest ; Minnesota, A. 

M. Fridley ; California, G. W. Patrick ; Oregon, Justus Stemberger. 



If 

FIFTH DAY. 

MORNING SESSION. 

The Convention was called to order shortly after 10 o'clock. * 

The opening prayer was delivered by Rev. Mr. Smythe. 

Mr. KING, of Missouri, offered the following resolution: 

Whereas, the Democracy of the Territory of Kansas have sent to this Convention Dele- 
gates to cast herein the votes of Kansas in the event of her being admitted into the Union; 
and whereas, the times indicate that before the meeting of, the next National Convention, 
Kansas will be admitted as a sovereign. State, and with the view of enabling the proposed 
State to have upon the nest Executive Committee of the party a representative, be it, 
therefore, by this Convention — 

Resolved, That the Delegation here representing the Democracy of Kansas, be, aud they 
are hereby, empowered to select one member for the National Committee, whiteh person 
thus selected shall be placed upon the National Democratic Committee as a member thereof, 
upon the admission of Kansas as a sovereign State. ,, 

The resolution was referred to the appropriate Committee. 

Mr. OCHILTREE, of Texas, presented resolutions on Platform, which were referred. 

The CLERK announced the names of the following additional members of the Committee 
on the Rules and Regulations for the government of the National Executive Committee, 
not included in the list published yesterday : Joshih Radall, Pennsylvania; W. E. li. Jones, 
Tennessee; Fidus Livermore, Michigan; Win. II. Merritt, Iowa. 

Mr. W. H. Parsous, of Texas, was substituted in the place of Mr. Josiah F. Crosby, ab- 
sent through indisposition. * 

Mr. AVERT, of North Carolina, presented the following from a majority of the Commit- 
tee on Resolutions : 

MAJORITY REPORT. 

Resolved, That the platform adrpted at Cincinnati be affirmed, "with the following reso- 
lutions : 

1. Resolved, That the Democracy of the United States hold these cardinal principles on 
the subject of slavery in the Territories: First, That Congress has no power to abolish 
slavery in the Territories. Second, That the Territorial Legislature has no power to 
abolish slavery in any Territory, nor to prohibit the introduction of slaves therein, nor auy 
power to exclude slavery therefrom, nor any right to destroy or impair the right of prop- . 
erty in slaves by any legislation whatever. 

2. Resolved, That the enactments of 'he State Legislatures lo defeat the faithful execu- 
tion of the Fugitive Slave Law are hostile in character, subversive of the Constitution, and 
revolutionary in their effect. 

3. Resolved, That is the duty of the Federal Government to protect, when necessary, 
' the rights of persons and property on the high seas, in the Territories, or wherever else its 

constitutional authority extends. 

4. Resolved, That the Democracy of the Nation recognize it as the imperative duty of 
this Government to protect the naturalized citizen in all his rights, whether at home or in 
foreign lands, to the same extent as its native-born citizens. 

5. Resolved, That the National Democracy earnestly recommend the acquisition of Cuba, 
at the practicable period. 

Whereas, that one of the greatest necessities of* the age, in a political, commercial, postal, 
and military point of view, is a speedy communication between the Pacific and Atlantic 
coasts : Therefore, be it — 

Resolved, That the National Democratic party do hereby pledge themselves to use every 
means in their power to secure the pas-age of some bill for the construction of a Pacific 
railroad, from the western line of the Mississippi river to the Pacific Ocean, at the earliest 
practicable moment. 

Mr. AVERY was instructed, as Chairman of the Committee, to report this Platform. 
He wai further instructed to say that entire unanimity did not prevail on a portion of the 
resolutions. 

The first and third resolutions in relation to slavery in the Territories, and the duty of 
the General Government to protect the right ef person and property, were adopted by a 



/ 



20 

bare majority of the Committee. The second resolution, in relation to the Fugitive Slave 
La w, and the fourth resolution, in relation to naturalized citizens, were adopted unani- 
mously, and the fifth resolution, in relation to the acquisition of Cuba was adopted with- 
out a division. The last resolution of the series, in reference to the Pacific Railroad, is 
adopted by a majority vote. 

Mr. PAYNE, of Oh£>, was charged with the presentation of a minority report, and, if he 
should be allowed three or four minutes to make an explanation, he would present it at 
that time. 

Mr. B. F. BUTLER, of Massachusetts, had a second minority report, which he wished to 
send to the Cbair, in order that it might be embodied in the argument. 

The PRESIDENT explained that the parliamentary course would receive all the reports. 
The adoption of a majority report being before the House, the other reports would be 
moved as amendments in their order. 

Mr. PAYNE then read the following : 

» MINORITY REPORT. 

T^he undersigned, a minority of the Committee on Resolutions, regretting their inability 
to concur with the Report of the majority of your Committee, feel constrained to submit the 
following as their Report, and recommend its adoption as a substitute for the report of the 
majority. 

Respectfully submitted, 

AMBROSE ROBERTS, Delegate from Maine. 

W. BURNS, Delegate from New Hampshire. 

E. M. BO WEN, Delegate from Vermont. 
» C. S. BRADLEY, Delegate from Rhode Island. 

A. G. HAZZARD, Delegate from Connecticut. 

BENJ. WILLIAMSON, Delegate from New Jersey. 

H. B. PAYNE, Delegate from Ohio. 

P. C. DUNNING, Delegate from Indiana. 

0. B. FICKLIN, Delegate from Illinois. 

G. V. N. LATHROP, Delegate from Michigan. 

A. S. PALMER, Delegate from Wisconsin. 

BEN. M. SAMUEL, Delegate from Iowa. 

JAS. S. CAVANAUGH, Delegate from Minnesota. 

EDWIN CROSWELL, Delegate from New York. 

H. B. WRIGHT, Delegate from Pennsylvania. 

The name of Mr. Croswell was followed by the note that he signed the report in accord- 
ance with the wishes of his Delegation, and agreed with the resolutions as far as they went. 
The resolutions of the minority, which he would read, contained one or two resolutions 
similar to those of the majority ; but as they hoped their report would be the Platform of 
the party, they had thought it best to embody these in that report. The resolutions are 
as follows : 

1. Resolved, That we, the Democracy of the Union, in Convention assembled, hereby de- 
clare our affirmance of the resolutions unanimously adopted and declared as a Platform of 
principles by the Democratic Convention at Cincinnati in the year 1856, believing that the 
Democratic principles are unchangeable in their nature when applied to the same subject- 
matters ; and we recommend, as the only further resolutions, the following : 

2. Resolved, That all questions in regard to the rights of property in States or Territories 
arising under the Constitution of the United States are judicial in their character, and the 
Democratic party is pledged to abide by and faithfully carry out such determination of 
these questions as has been or may be made by the Supreme Court of the United States. 

3. Resolved, That it is the duty of the United States to afford ample and complete pro- 
tection to all its citizens, whether at home or abroad, and whether native or foreign born. 

4. Resolved, That one of the necessities of the age, in a military, commercial, and postal 
point of view, is speedy communication between the Atlantic and Pacific States ; and the 
Democratic party pledge such Constitutional Government aid as will insure the construction 
of a railroad to the Pacific coast, at the earliest practicable period. 

5. Resolved, That the Democratic party are in favor of the acquisition of the Island of 
Cuba, on such terms as shall be honorable to ourselves and just to Spain. 

6. Resolved, That the enactments of State Legislatures to defeat the faithful execution of 
the Fugitive Slave Law, are hostile in character, subversive of the Constitution, and revolu- 
tionary in their effect. 



21 

He should further state, that -while the minority had adopted the Pacific railroad resolu- 
tions, yet it did not, in their judgment, come quite up to the mark. At the proper time, or 
now, if it was the proper time, he should move these resolutions as a substitute for the 
resolutions reported by the majority of the Committee. 

Mr. B. F. BUTLER, desired now to present the following minority report, signed by him- 
self, as a substitute for the amendment proposed by the gentleman from Ohio : 

Resolved, That we, the Democracy of the Union, in Convention assembled, hereby de- 
clare our affirmance of the Democratic Besolutions unanimously adopted and declared as a 
Platform of Principles at Cincinnati, in the year 1856, without addition or alteration, be- 
lieving that Democratic principles are unchangeable in their nature, when applied to the 
same subject-matter, and we recommend as the only further resolution, the following : 

Resolved, That it is the duty of the United States to extend its protection alike over all 
its citizens, whether native or naturalized. 

A minority of your Committee have agreed to report the above as the sole resolutions 
upon the subject of the principles of the party. 

In behalf of a minority of the Committee. 

B. F. BUffLER. 

Mr. COCHRANE, of New York, understood the position of the question to be that the 
majority report was presented to the Convention, and the minority report was offered as a 
substitute. To this substitute, the minority report offered by Mr. Payne, of Ohio, was 
moved as an amendment. He now desired to know if a resolution he held in his hand, and 
which he desired to offer, was in order as an amendment to the amendment. 

The PRESIDENT. The two minority reports take the positions of amendments. No 
further amendment would therefore be in order. 

Mr. COCHRANE. Then I give notice that as soon as one amendment is out of the way, I 
shall offer the following : 

Resolved, That the several States of this Union are, under the Constitution, equal, and 
that the people thereof are entitled to the free and undisturbed possession and enjoyment 
of their rights of person and property in the common Territories, and that any attempt by 
Congress or a Territorial Legislature to annul, abridge, or discriminate any such equality 
or rights would be unwise in policy and repugnant to the Constitution ; and that it is the 
duty of the Federal Government, whenever such rights are violated, to afford the neces- 
sary, proper, and constitutional remedies for such violations. 

Resolved, That the Platform of Principles adoptec'gfty the Convention held in Cincinnati, 
in 1856, and the foregoing resolutions, are hereby declared to be the Platform of the Demo- 
cratic party. 

Mr. WHITNEY, of Massachusetts, inquired if the majority resolutions were divisible? If 
so, he desired to offer an amendment to the third resolution. 

Mr. AVERY insisted on his right to the floor ; not out of any discourtesy, but because 
if every proposition was to be crowded on the House at once, it would be impossible to get 
through with the business of the Convention. 

Mr. WHITNEY simply desired to give notice to the Convention that he should move to 
strike out of the third resolution of the majority all after the words " high seas." 

The PRESIDENT. It will not now be in order, and the gentleman from North Carolina 
has the floor. 

Mr. AVERY, of North Carolina. . On behalf of the majority of the Committee on Reso- 
lutions, he was instructed to express their regret that they were compelled to appear before 
the Convention and present a report that had not been agreed on by the entire Committee. 
He asked the gentleman from Ohio, if the report of the minority of the Committee repre- 
sents a greater number of States than he found appended thereto in the printed copy of 
the Resolutions. 

Mr. PAYNE. It represents also the States of New York and Pennsylvania, which have 
beon added this morning. 

Mr. B. F. BUTLER next addressed the Convention, and argued in support of his minority 
report. 

Mr. BARKSDALE, of Mississippi, obtained the floor, but gave way to a motion to ad- 
journ until 4 p. m. 



AFTERNOON SESSION. 

The Convention was culled to order nt 20 minutes prist 4 o'clock. 

Mr. BARKSDALE, of Mississippi, had the floor. 

Mr. SALES, of Rhode Island, begged leave to move, the following: 

Resolved, That the Committee to whom has been referred the subject of the time and 
place of holding the next Convention, aj>[ ointment of National Committee, &c, be requested 
to consider the propriety of fixing the number of Delegates for whom seats shall be provided 
in the next National Convention — to the number of Senators and Representatives to which 
each State is entitled in the Congress of the United States. 

The resolution was adopted. 

Mr. BARKSDALE proceeded to speak in support of the majority resolutions. 

Mr. KING, of Missouri, followed, when 

Mr. YANCEY, of Alabama, addressed the Convention at length in exposition of resolu- 
tion* adopted by the State of Alabama. 

The debate was continued by Mr PtiGrr, of Ohio, when the Convention took a recess. 

Upou the reassembling of the Convention, 

Hon. F. B. SPINOLA asked leave to introduce a resolution to take the fiDal vote on the 
resolutions without further amendment, delay or debate, at 12 tomorrow. 

Mr. CLARK, of Missouri, objected to the introduction of the resolution. 

Mr. SAMUELS, of Iowa. Can the gentlemen name any time when they are willing that 
the final vote shall be taken ? 

Mr. CLARK. We do not desire to protract debate. But whenever the vote is taken, we 
desire it should be taken under the previous question, which, however, we shall not our- 
selves move. Then the question will come direct upon the three propositions now before 
the House, and not. upon any new proposition that may be sprung upon us at the eleventh 
hour. 

Mr. SAMUELS, of Iowa, concurred in the remarks of the gentleman from Mississippi, 
and the more speedily they could arrive at a result, the better satisfied he should be. He 
desired the vote to be taken with a full, fair, and complete understanding of the question. 
He was in favor of allowing all to exp^. a ; ss their views. 

After further discussion, the motiol^was withdrawn. 

Mr. JOHN COCHRANE gave notice of an amendment which ho desired to offer, and 
claimed that the friends of a measure had the right to perfect it before any amendments 
were made. 

Mr. CLARK, of Missouri, asked if the gentleman was a friend of the majority report. 

Mr. COCHRANE. If the amendment I propose to make is adopted, I shall be. 

Mr. STUART, of Michigan, raised the point of order that while the right claimed by the 
gentleman from New York existed to a certain extent, his alteration was, in fact, to en- 
tirely change the whole proposition. 

Mr. CLARK, of Missouri, raised the point of order, that the proposition of Mr. Cochrane 
took the shape of an amendment, and was not in order. 

Mr. J. COCHRANE admitted he acted on his own responsibility, but because his State 
was to vote as a unit, he saw no reason why a Delegate should not maintain opinions of 
his own. 

The PRESIDENT decided the amendment out of order. 

Mr. BISHOP, of Connecticut, moved the previous question. 

Mr. JOHNSON, of Maryland, desired to caution the Convention that if the previous 
question was pressed, the. consequences would be disastrous if there was to be an attempt 
to gag them. 

Mr. BAYARD, of Delaware, warned the mover to withdraw his call. 

Mr. BIGLER. If the majority press their point now, there is a minority that will resist 
at all hazards. 

Mr. CLARK, of Mississippi, moved to adjourn. 

The PRESIDENT at length put the affirmative on the motion to adjourn, and declared 
ihe Convention adjourned. 



23 



SIXTH DAY. 

MORNING SESSION, 

The Convention was called to order at a few minutes past 10 o'clock. 

No clergyman present. 

Mr. BIGLER, of Pennsylvania, said: From the time of the assembling of the first 
National Conventien to this hour, there probably had never been a period so full of danger 
as the present, and he rose to exhort calm deliberation and friendty debate upon the ex- 
citing questions that agitated the country. He had come here with an earnest and sincere 
des.ire to reconcile and harmonize existing difficulties, and to prevent the party from longer 
standing ari'ayed, State against State, brother against brother, in the Democratic family. 
As there seemed to be a difference of opinion about the platform upon which the party 
should now go into the contest, his desire was to conciliate those difficulties. He was for 
the union of the Democratic party for the sake of the Union. He knew this was no time 
to discuss the ordinai'y politics of the day, and should not. occupy the time of the Conven- 
tion in debate. He rose simply for a practical purpose. He discovered here that Demo- 
crats stand arrayed against each other — one portion advocating the majority and the other 
the minority report of the Committee on Resolutions. This would be of itself unimportant, 
were it not apparent that the vote about to be cast would go very far towards sectional- 
izing the Democratic party. 

I desire to move to recommit the minority report of Mr. Butler, together with minority 
and majority reports of the Committee, with instructions to report within one hour the 
following resolutions : 

Resolved, That the Platform adopted by the Democratic party at Cincinnati be affirmed, 
with the following explanatory resolutions : 

Resolved, That the Government qf a Tei-ritory, organized by an act of Congress, is 
provisional and temporary ; and, during its existence, all citizens of the United States 
have an equal right to settle in the Territory, without their rights, either of person or 
property, being destroyed or impaired by congressional or territorial legislation. 

Resolved, That the Democratic party stands pledged to the doctrine that it is the duty of 
Government to maintain the constitutional rights of property of every species, and to 
enforce all the decisions of the Supreme Court in reference thereto. 

Resolved, That it is the duty of the United States to afford ample and complete protec- 
tion to all its citizens, whether at home or abroad, and whether native or foreign. 

Resolved, That one of the necessities of the age, in a military, commmercial, and postal 
point of view, is speedy communication between the Atlantic and Pacific States ; and the 
Democratic party pledge such constitutional Government aid as will insure the construction 
of a railroad to the Pacific coast at the earliest practicable period. 

Resolved, That the Democratic party are in favor of the acquisition of the Island of 
Cuba, on such terms as shall be honorable to ourselves and just to Spain. 

Resolved, That the enactments of State Legislatures to defeat the faithful execution of 
the Fugitive Slave Law are hostile in character, subversive of the Constitution, and revo- 
lutionary in their effect. 

' Mr. BIGLER, in order that the propositions might be understood thoroughly, would say 
that the first resolution proposed is that known as the Bayard Platform, which was before 
the Committee, and adopted by a majorjtjr of one State, but afterwards reconsidered. The 
third and fourth resolutions of the Minority Committee were attached. He proposed to 
make it a motion of instructions, so that the sense of the Convention may be obtained at 
once on the question. He therefore moved the previous question. 

Mr. COCHRANE rose to a point of order. The call of the previous question, if the 
amendment to recommit should fail, cuts off all further amendment or debate, on the whole 
propositions before the house, until the final vote is reached. He moved, therefore, before 
the previous question was ordered, to amend the instructions to the Committee, by instruct- 
ing them to report the following : 

Resolved, That the several States of the Union are, under the Constitution, equal, and that 
the people thereof are entitled to the free and undisturbed possession and enjoyment of their 
rights Of person and property in the common Territories, and that any attempt by Con- 



24 

gress or a Territorial Legislature to annul, abridge, or discriminate against any such 
equality or rights would be unwise in policy and repugnant to the Constitution ; and that 
it is the duty of the Federal Government, whenever such rights are violated, to sTfford the 
necessary, proper, and constitutional remedies for such violations. 

Resolved, That the Platform of principles adopted by the Convention held in Cincinnati, 
in 1856, aud the foregoing resolutions, are hereby declared to be the Platform of the 
Democratic party. 

Mr. MONTGOMERY. I move to lay both the amendments on the table. 

Mr. BIGLER. I desire to know, on the point of order, whether the Chair will agree to 
the construction of the gentleman from New York, that the previous question will apply 
to the whole proposition finally, without debate or further amendment '.' 

After debate, the PRESIDENT said : In the judgment of the Chair the motion to lay the 
motion to recommit on the table, carries with it whatever adheres to the motion to recom- 
mit. As the several reports of the Committee adhere to the motion to recommit, they will, 
therefore, be laid on the table if the motion now before the Convention should prevail. . 

Mr. JOHNSON had made the enquiry because he found that members of Congress, of 
experience, were differing in their opinions as to the effect of the motion. 
, Mr. MONTGOMERY. While I differ from the Chair in its decision, I will withdraw the 
motion to lay on the table. 

The PRESIDENT. The question then is — Shall the previous question be seconded? 
[Loud cries of ''Aye!" "Aye!"] 

* The previous question was then seconded by a large vote. 

The State of Florida demanded the vote by States on the question, "Shall the main ques- 
tion be now put?" 

* Mr. WALKER. Before that vote is taken, I demand a division of the question. 

Mr. NELSON, of Georgia, before the vote was taken, desired to know if the new rule adopted 
by the Convention on Tuesday last would enable those members of Delegations not instructed 
by their States, to cast their individual votes as they pleased, independent of the action of 
the majority of the Delegation. He desired to read the resolution adopted at the Georgia 
Convention, which appointed Delegates to Charleston^ The resolution requested the Dele- 
gation to the National Convention to cast their votes as a unit. This he held was not an 
instruction; it was only a request, and it was left to the discretion of members, after they 
got here, to cast their votes as they pleased, 

Mr. DAVIS, of Virginia, asked if this was a debatable question at this time. The 
previous question had been seconded and the call for a vote by States made. 

The PRESIDENT. The Chair is of opinion that the debate is not now in order. 

Mr. BRYAN. If the previous question is sustained, how does it affect the report if 
committed? Will the Committee have to report denovof 

The PRESIDENT. If the motion to recommit alone is adopted the Committee is left 
free to report as they please. If the instructions are also adopted the Committee will 
have no power but to report back the Platform introduced by Mr. Bigler, of Pennsylvania. 

[The vote by States was then taken, and the previous question was ordered by a vote of 
' 302 ayes, 1 nay — the State of Maryland casting the single negative vote.] 

Mr. WALKER. I will withdraw my call for a division of the question. I desire that 
the reports may be recommitted, with these instructions. 

A Delegate renewed the demand for a division of the question. 

The vote was then taken by States on the motion to recommit only, and the same was 
carried by the following vote : 9 



25 



Nays. 

5 Louisiana 

5 Mississippi 


Teas. 

6 

7 

4 


Nays 


5 Arkansas 

4 Missouri 

4J Tennessee 

35 Kentucky 

3 Ohio 


4 

5 

11 

12 


"4 

1 

23 






13 






11 


2J Michigan 




6 
5 






4 


Minnesota 

California 


1 

4 

3 


3 




152 


151 



Yeas. 

Maine 3 

New Hampshire 

Vermont 

Massachusetts S 

Rhode Island 

Connecticut 1| 

New York 

New Jersey 4 

Pennsylvania 16 

Delaware 3 

Maryland 5J 

Virginia 14 

North Carolina 10 

South Carolina 8 

Georgia 10 

Florida 3 

Alabama 9 



Mr. BROOKS, of Alabama, called for a division of the question on the resolutions of 
instruction, so as to bring the vote first on the instructions, and then on time. 
. Mr. STUART called for a division of the question, so as to bring the vote first on the 
instruction to report the Cincinnati Platform. 

Mr. BAYARD. The question is not so divisible, as the first proposition was to report 
the Cincinnati Platform, with the following' modifications. He appealed to the Convention 
not to raise the question and points of order. They desired, as fair action, not to quibble 
on rules of the House of Representatives. He hoped the resolutions would be referred 
without any instructions. Then let the Convention, in a spirit of unity, meet together, 
and if they cannot agree, let them report two Platforms, and then let the Convention decide 
for itself which it will adopt. [Cheers ] 

The PRESIDENT. The gentleman from Michigan calls for a division of the question. 
The Chair is of opinion that the resolution is thus divisible. 

Mr. BROOKS, of Alabama, moved to lay the resolutions of instruction upon the table. 

Mr. BURNETT, of Alabama, asked if the motion to lay on the table was in order. 

The PRESIDENT. The Chair rules that the motion of the gentleman from Alabama to 
lay the resolutions on the table, i3 iu order, and tha^ its effect will be to dispose only of 
the resolutions of instruction, and that the three reports will, in the event of the adoption 
of the motion, be re-committed to the Committee without any instructions. 

The question being put on laying Mr. Bigler's resolutions of instruction on the table — 
when the State of Georgia was called, 

Mr. LAMAR, of Georgia, rose to a question of privilege. He called to the attention of 
the Convention the controversy that prevailed in the Georgia Delegation. The resolution 
Htlopted by the Convention in that State requested the Delegates to Charleston to cast their 
votes as a unit. The rule adopted by this Convention provides that the individual Dele- 
gates shall cast their votes as they please, where it is not provided or directed by the State 
uow they shall cast their votes. He would be now willing to leave the question to the 
Convention, whether the Georgia delegation are not bound to cast the vote of the State as 
a unit. 

Mr. NELMS. In the State Convention the word " instruct" was stricken out of the 
resolution, as he was informed, and the word "request" inserted. Georgia had never 
" instructed" her Delegates. She left theiri free and untrammelled to act as the impulse 
of the judgment and the dictates of patriotism might dictate. He asked that every Dele- 
gate might be allowed to speak his own sentiments, and the sentiments of the Empire State 
of the South, on, that floor. 

Mr*IRWIN, of Georgia, begged to say a word of explanation. His friend would not, he 
knew, misrepresent a fact; but he was mistaken as to the facts in this case. He waa 
present at the Convention, and had moved, when the present resolution was introduced, to 
substitute the word " instruct" for " request." The President of the Convention had sug- 
gested the two words meant the same, but that the latter was the most courteous. He 
had therefore withdrawn the motion. 



Mr. MONTGOMERY, of Pennsylvania, moved that the true interpretation of the rule 
shall be held to be, that where no positive instructions are given by a State, the Delegate 
shall be allowed to cast his vote as he pleases. 

The PRESIDENT reviewed the facts of the case as brought to the knowledge of the 
Convention, and held that the words of the rule, which allowed any Delegate to cast his 
individual vote, except where the State he represented had provided or directed how the 
vote of the Delegation should be cast, covered, in his judgment, the resolution that it had 
been agreed upon by both parties, had been adopted by the Georgia St.ite Convention. 
The word "provided," in the rule, was evidently meant to cover something more than 
" directions," as both words had been used. The request of a State should certainly be 
liberally construed, and he thought it was a provision as to how the vote of the State should 
be cast. He, therefore, resolved to receive the vote of the State of Georgia, through the 
Chairman of the Delegation, as a unit. 

The motion to lay on the table the resolutions of Mr. Birrler instructing the Committee 
on Resolutions, was declared and carried by the following vote : 

Teas. Nays. Yros. Xays. 

Maine 8 Louisiana o 

New Hampshire 5 • Mississippi 7 

Vermont 5 Texas 4 

Massachusetts 12£ ^ Arkansas 4 

Rhode Island 4 Missouri 4 9 

Connecticut 5 1 Tennessee 11 

New York 35 Kentucky 5 

NewJersey 7 Ohio '. 23 

Pennsylvania : 8 15 Indiana 13 

Delaware 3 Illinois 11 

Maryland 5j 2$ Michigan 6 

Virginia 15 1 Wisconsin 5 

North Carolina 10 Iowa 4 

South Carolina 8 j Minnesota 4 

Georgia 10 ,.0 California 3i 0£ 

Florida 3 \ Oregon , 0" 3 

Alabama 9 

242 

Mr. WRIGHT, of Massachusetts, moved that the Committee on Resolutions be instructed to 
report at 4 o'clock, and called the previous question. 

The previous question was ordered.' 

The resolution requiring a report at four o'clock was then adopted by a large majority, and 
on motion of Mr. Montgomrby, the Convention took a recess till that hour. 



AFTERNOON SESSION. 



Charleston, April 28, 18G0. 

The Convention was called to order at half-past 4 o'clock. 

Mr. AVERY, of North Carolina, stated that the report he was about to present from the 
Committee on Resolutions represented a majority of States on the Committee, and were a modi- 
fied form of the resolutions of Messrs. Bayard. Bigler & Cochrane. 

The report was as follows: 

Resolved, That the Platform adopted by the Democratic party at Cincinnati be affirmed 
with the following explanatory resolutions: • 

First. That the government of a Territory organized by an act of Congress is provisional 
and temporary; and, during its existence, all citizens of the United States have an equal right 
to settle with their property in the Territory without their rights, either of person or property, 
being destroyed or impaired by Congressional or Territoral legislation. 

Second. That it is the duty of the Federal Government, in all its departments, to protect,- 



irhfn necessary, the rights of persons nnd property in the Territories, and wherever else its 
constitutional authority extends. 

Third. That when the settlers in a Territory having an adequate population form a State 
Constitution, the right of sovereignty commences, and being consummated by"admission into 
the Union, they stand on an equal footing with the people of other States, and the State thus 
organized ought to be admitted into the Federal Union, whether its Constitution prohibits or 
recognises the institution of slavery. 

Fourth. That the Democratic party are in favor of the acquisition of the Tsland of Cuba, on 
such terms as shall be honorable to ourselves and just to Spain, at the earliest practicable mo- 
ment. 

Fifth. That the enactments of State Legislatures to defeat the faithful execution of the Fugi- 
tive Slave Law are hostile in character, subversive of the Constitution, and revolutionary in 
their effect. 

Sixth. That the Democracy of the United States recognise it as the imperative duty of this 
Government to protect the naturalized citizen in all his rights, whether at home or in foreign 
lands, to the same extent as its native-born citizens. 

Whereas, one of the greatest necessities of the age, in apolitical, commercial, postal and 
military point of view, is a speedy communication between the Pacific and Atlantic coasis: 
Therefore, be it 

Resolved, That the Democratic party do hereby pledge themselves to use every means in 
their power to secure the passage of some bill, to the extent of the Constitutional authority of 
Congress, for the construction of a Pacific Railroad from the Mississippi river to the Pacific 
Ocean, at the earliest practicable moment. 

Mr. AVERY explained the modifications that had been made in the resolutions that l*ad 
formed the basis of the platform. 

Mr. SAMUELS, of Iowa, presented and read the following minority, report: 

1. Resolved, That we, the Democracy of the Union, in Convention assembled, hereby de- 
clare our affirmance of the Resolutions unanimously adopted and declared as a Platform of 
Principles by the Democratic Convention at Cincinnati, in the year 1856, believing that Demo- 
cratic principles are unchangeable in their nature, when applied to the same subject-matters; 
and we recommend as the ouly further Resolutions the following: 

2. Inasmuch as differences of opinion exist in the Democratic party as to the nature and ex- 
tent of the powers of a Territorial Legislature, and as to the powers and duties of Congress, 
under the Constitution of the United States, over the institution of slavery within the Terri- 
tories: 

Resolved, That the Democratic party will abide by the decision of the Supreme Court of the 
United States upon these questions of Constitutional Law. 

3. Resolved, That it is the duty of the United States to afford ample and complete pro- 
tection to all its citizens, whether at home or abroad, and whether native or foreign born. 

4. Resolved, That one of the necessities of the age, in a military, commercial, and postal 
point of view, is speedy communication between the Atlantic and Pacific States; and the 
Democratic party pledge such Constitutional Government aid as will insure the construction 
of a railroad -to the Pacific coast, at the earliest practicable period. 

5. Resolved, That the Democratic party are in favor of the acquisition of the Island of Cuba, 
on such terms as shall be honorable to ourselves and just to Spain. 

6. Resolved, That the enactments of State Legislatures to defeat the faithful execution of the 
Fugitive Slave Law are hostile in character, subversive of the Constitution, and revolution- 
ary in their effect. 

Mr. SAMUELS then proceeded to speak in support of the resolutions. 

Mr. RANDALL, of Pennsylvania, desired to know how many names were attached to the 
several reports. 

Mr. BUTLER would reply. Several members of the committee had been absent when the 
reports were agreed upon. Seventeen had signed the majority report. Four gentlemen had 
agreed with him in his report. Eleven had agreed with the report presented by the gentleman 
from Iowa. 

After debate, Mr. CLAIBORNE moved the previous question. 

Mr. JACKSON moved to adjourn, and the vote was taken by States, and lost. 

The previous question was then seconded by a large vote. 

Mr. CLARK, of Missouri, desired a division, so as to be able to strike out the third resolu- 
tion of the majority. 

A motion to adjourn was again made and lost, on a vote by States. 

Mr. JACKSON. I again move to lay the whole subject on the table. 

The vote was taken on laying the whole subject on the table, and it was lost by the follow- 
ing vote : 



Yeas. Nays 

Maine ' 8 

New Hampshire 5 

Vermont 5 

Massachusetts* 4$ 8£ 

Rhode Island 4 

Connecticut 6 

NewYork 35 

New Jersey 7 

Pennsylvania 3 24 

Delaware 3 

Maryland 8 

Virginia 15 

North Carolina 10 

South Carolina 8 

Georgia 10 

Florida 3 

Alabama 9 



Teas. 

Louisiana 

Mississippi 

Texas 

Arkansas 

Missouri 

Tennessee 

Kentucky 

Ohio 

Indiana / , ... 

Illinois 

Michigan 

Wisconsin 

Iowa , 

Minnesota 

California 

Oregon 

20£ 



Nays. 



Mr. GITTINGS, of Maryland. I move to adjourn, and call the vote by States. 

The motion was lost. 

Various points of order arose. 

The previous question was then ordered by the following vote : 



Teas. 

Maine 8 

New Hampshire 5 

Vermont 5 

Massachusetts 13 

Rhode Island 4 

Connecticut 6 

New York 35 

New Jersey 7 

Pennsylvania 27 

Delaware 3 

Maryland 8 

Virginia 15 

North Carolina 10 

South Carolina 

Georgia 

Florida 3 

Alabama 9 



Nays. 



Teas. 

Louisiana 6 

Mississippi 7 

Texas 4 

Arkansas 4 

Missouri.., 5 

Tennessee 7 

Kentucky 7 

Ohio 23 

Indiana 13 

Illinois 11 

Michigan 6 

Wisconsin 5 

Iowa 4 

Minnesota 4 

California 4 

Oregon 3 

276 



Nays. 



26$ 



After further debate, at 11 o'clock, on motion of Mr. Stuart, the Convention adjourned till 
Monday morning. 



SEVENTH DAY 



MORNING SESSION. 

Monday, April 30, 1860. 

The Convention was called to order at half-past ten. 

Prayer was delivered by the Rev. Mr. Dana, of the Central Presbyterian Church. 

The PRESIDENT. At the time of the adjournment, the Convention had ordered that the 
main question be now put. A motion to reconsider and to lay on the table had been adopted. 
The question then was upon taking the main question, which is a series of resolutions to be 
voted upon. 

The majority of the Committee, through their Chairman, Mr. Avery, reported the resolu- 
tions adopted "by that majority. ' Thereupon Mr. Samuels moved to amend those resolutions 
by substituting the report of the minority. Mr. Butler moved, in behalf of another portion 
of the minority, to substitute their amendment by the adoption of the amendment of that mi- 
nority. The first question would be upon the amendment of Mr. Butler, then upon that of 
Mr. Samuels, then, if both fail, upon the adoption of the majority report. 

The question was then taken by States on the amendment of Mr. Butler, and the same was 
lost by the following vote: 



Yeas. Nays. 

Maine 3 5 

New Hampshire 5 

Vermont 5 

Massachusetts 8 5 

Rhode Island 4 

Connecticut 2^ 3£ 

New York *35 

New Jersey 5 2 

Pennsylvania 16£ 10J 

Delaware 3 

Maryland 5,} 2£ 

Virginia 12J 2J 

North Carolina 10 

South Carolina 8 

Georgia 10 

Florida 3 

Alabama 9 



Yeas. Nays. 

Louisiana 6 

Mississippi 

Texas 

Arkansas 

Missouri 4£ 

Tennessee ll" 

Kentucky 9 

Ohio 

Indiana 

Illinois 

Michigan 

Wisconsin 

Iowa 

Minnesota .' l£ 

California 

Oregon . 3 

105 198 



1 
4 
4 

1 

3 
23 
13 
11 

6 

5 

4 

H 

4 




"When the State of Georgia was called, Mr. Seward challenged the vote. 

Mr. FLOITRNOY, on the State of Arkansas being called, gave notice that he desired to ex- 
plain the vote of that State at the proper time. 

When New Jersey was called, Mr. Williamson, of New Jersey, called attention of the Chair 
to the fact that a difference existed amongst the Delegates as to how the vote was to be cast. 
He read the resolutions of the State Convention, on instructing the Delegates to vote for Wil- 
liam C. Alexander for Vice President, and recommended them to cast their other votes as a 
unit. The decision of the Chair on the Georgia case was held to prevent the individual Dele- 
gates of his State from voting as they pleased. He held that the State had not instructed or 
requested their Delegates to vote as a unit, in the resolutions passed. The difference between 
the two resolutions showed that no instructions were intended, except as related to the vote 
for Vice President. 

The CHAIR decided that the same rule .applied to both cases, and that the vote of New 
Jersey must be cast as a unit. 

Mr. WILLIAMSON appealed from the decision of the Chair. 

Mr. PHILIPS moved to lay the appeal on the table. 

The vote on the motion to lay the appeal on the table was then taken, and it was lost — 
146 to 150. 

The vote was then taken by States on the appeal. 



10 



The announcement was then made, and the decision of the Chair was not sustained, iho Yi>i.« 
standing 143 to 151. 

So the decision of the Chair was reversed. 
• Mr. BUTLER called for a division of the question on the nest resolution in order, being tho 
minority report, so that the vote be first taken on that portion re-enacting the Cincinnati 
Platform. 

Mr. PHILIPS, of Pennsylvania, raised the point that the question was not divisible, being 
a motion to strike out and insert. 

The CHAIR referred to the rule, that the motion to strike out and insert shall be deemed 
indivisible, and decided the point well taken. 

Mr. BUTLER. I desire to move to lay the whole subject ot the Platform on the tajde, in 
order to procec 1 to ballot for a Presidential candidate. 

Mr. WINSTON raised the point of order that the House having ordered the previous question 
to be taken now, all motions were out of order until the question has been taken. 

Mr. BUTLER withdrew his motion. 

The States were then called on the motion to adopt the minority resolutions. 

'Die vote was then declared, and the minority resolutions were adopted by the following 
vote: 



Maine 8 

New Hampshire 5 

Vermont 5 

Massachusetts 7 

Rhode Island 4 

Connecticut (5 

New York 35 

New Jersey 5 

Pennsylvania 12 

Delaware 

Maryland 3 J 

Virginia 1 

North Carolina 

South Carolina 

Georgia 

Florida 

Alabama 



Nays. 







6 







2 
15 

3 

4£ 
14 
10 

8 
10 

3 



Yeas. 

Louisiana 

Mississippi . C 

Texas....". 

Arkansas 

Missouri 4 

Ten nessee 1 

Kentucky • 'lh 

Ohio 

Indiana 13 

Illinois 11 

Michigan .- 

Wisconsin 5 

Iowa 4 

Minnesota 4 

California.* 

Oregon 

165 






4 
4 
5 

u 




10 

Q 




138 



The question then being on the adoption of the report as amended, Mr. B. F. Bntler, of 
Massachusetts, moved for a division of the question, so as to take the vote first on the propo- 
sition to adopt the Cincinnati Platform first. 

Mr. SEWARD, of Georgia, raised the point of order that the question was not divisible. 

Mr. ASHE, of. North Carolina, made an earnest appeal to the North to pause before con- 
summating this action. It could but lead to a division and ruin, for as a representative of 
North Carolina he could not remain in the Convention if this Platform was adopted. 

Mr. SALISBURY, of Delaware, desired to know if it would be in order to move at any 
time a division of the question so as to strike out the preamble in the Minority Report, which 
he said contradicts the Cincinnati Platform. 

The CHAIR decided that the report having been amended by the insertion of the minority 
resolutions, the call for a division was in order on any substantive propositions that would 
make sense when standing alone. 

Mr. BUTLER, of Massachusetts, then called for a division on so much of the resolutions as 
related to the Cincinnati Platform. 

Michigan demanded the vote by States. 

When Mississippi was called, Mr. GLENN said: Believing that the Cincinnati Platform, un- 
explained, is a great political swindle on one-half the States of the Cuion. Mississippi votes no! 

When Georgia was called, the contest in that State was again called to the attention of the 
Chair, some of the minority of the Delegation arguing that the ret cut reversal of the decision 
of the Chair, in respect to the New Jersey Delegation, affected that State. 

The President sustained his former decision that the Delegates must vote as a unit, and Mr. 
Seward appealed, but subsequently withdrew his appeal. 

The vote was then announced on the first resolution of the series, which is as follows: 

1. Resolved, That we, the Democracy of the Union, in Convention assembled, hereby declare 
our affirmance of the resolutions unanimously adopted and declared as a Platform of Princi- 
ples by the Democratic Convention at Cincinnati, in the year 1856, believing that Democratio 
principles are unchangeable in their nature, when applied to the same subject-matters. 

It was carried as follows: 





Yeas. 

8 

5 


*** 

1 

3 

1 

8 

JO 

3 




Zeae . 


jyays 

6 


New Hampshire 


Mississippi 

Texas 




7 
4 




13 

4 








Rhode Island 




n 


u 








10;> 


1 




35 




12" 




New Jersey 




Ohio....." 


13 






r, 


Illinois 


11 










Virginia 


14 








foAva 


4 

4 










Georgia 






1 


3* 
3 




' 


Alabama 










m 



65 



Mr. DRIGGS, of New York, said the Convention having- adopted the Cincinnati Platform, 
he would move to lay the balance of the resolutions on the table. 

Mr. STUART. I raise the point, that that motion, if adopted, will take the Cincinnati 
Platform with it. 

The PRESIDENT. The Chair has reviewed the Rule in this case, in a recent motion made 
by Mr. Bigler. of Pennsylvania, and decides that the Cincinnati Platform resolution, having 
been absolutely adopted by this House, will not be carried to the table with the resolutions. 
."Mr. BIDWELL, of California. I ask the gentleman to withdraw the motion to lay on the 
table, so as first to take the vote on the Pacific Railroad resolution. 

Mr. DRIGGS declined to withdraw. 

The question being on the motion to lay the residue of the resolutions on the table, Missis- 
sippi demanded the vote by States. 

Alabama, Mississippi, Florida and Arkansas refused to vote. 

The motion was lost bv tlie following vote: 



Yeas. 

Maine 

New Hampshire 

Vermont 

Massachusetts 8$ 

Rhode Island 

Connecticut 2 

New York 

New Jersey 5 

Pennsylvania 16j 

Delaware 2 

Maryland 

Virginia 11 

North Carolina 9 

South Carolina 8 

Georgia 

Florida 

Alabama 



Kays. 



5 
4* 

4 

4 
35 

2 
10£ 



Yeas. 

Louisiana 

Mississippi 

Texas 

Arkansas 

Missouri 

Tennessee 10£ 

Kentucky 1£ 

Ohio 

Indiana 

Illinois : 

Michigan. 

Wisconsin 

Iowa 

Minnesota 1 

California 

Oregon 

81 



Nays. 
6 


1 
9 

II 

23 
13 
11 

6 

5 

4 

3 

4 



188 



Mr. Brown, of North Carolina, made an appeal to the North, before completing the Plat- 
form, to make some attempt at conciliation, and was followed by Mr. Stuart, who was called 
to order by Mr. Meek, of Alabama, on the ground that he had once spoken on the subject 

Mr. BROWNE, of North Carolina, appealed to the Convention to hear the gentleman from 
Michigan. 

Mr. COCHRAN, of New York, believed peace offerings were about to be made, and called 
on the Convention to hear. 

Mr. RICHARDSON, of Illinois, rose,- and there were loud calls to " order." 

Mr. MEEK insisted on his point of order. 

Mr. BUTLER, of Massachusetts, called for the division, so that the vote should betaken 
first on the preamble and the resolution immediately following, relating to the Supreme Court 
decisions. 



32 

The vote was then taken on the first proposition, which was the adoption of the following 
preamble and resolution: 

Inasmuch as differences of opinion exist in the Democratic party as to the nature and extent 
of the powers of a Territorial Legislature, and as to the powers and duties of Congress, under 
the Constitution of the United States, over the institution of slavery within the Territories: 

Resolved, That the Democratic party will atfide by the decisions of the Supreme Court of the 
United States, on the questions of Constitutional law. 

The vote was announced, and the preamble and resolutions were rejected, as follows: 



Yeas. 

Maine 

New Hampshire 1 

Vermont 

Massachusetts 

Rhode Island 4 

Connecticut 

New York 

New Jersey 

Pennsylvania 8 

Delaware 

Maryland 

Virginia 

North Carolina 

South Carolina 

Georgia 

Florida 

Alabama 



Nays. 
8 
4 
5 
13 



Yeas. 

Louisiana 

Mississippi 

Arkansas 

Missouri 4 

Tennessee 

Kentucky 4 

Ohio 

Indiana 

Illinois 

Michigan 

Wisconsin 

Iowa 

Minnesota 

California 

Oregon 

21 



Nays. 



23 
13 
11 
6 
5 
4 
4 
4 
3 

238 



A division was called on all the remaining resolutions, and they were severally adopted; 
that relating to the rights of naturalized citizens receiving a unanimous vote, even in this 
divided Convention. The resolutions adopted, in addition to the Cincinnati Platform, are as 
follows: 

3. Resolved, That it is the duty of the United States to afford ample and complete protection 
to all its citizens, whether at home or abroad, and whether native or foreign born. 

4. Resolved, That one of the necessities of the age, in a military, commercial, and postal point 
of view, is speedy communication between the Atlantic and Pacific States; and the Democratic 
party pledge such Constitutional Government aid as will insure the construction of a railroad 
to the Pacific coast, at the earliest practicable period. 

5. Resolved, That the Democratic party are in favor of the acquisition of the Island of Cuba, 
on such terms as shall be honorable to ourselves and just to Spain. 

6. Resolved, That the enactments of State Legislatures to defeat the faithful execution of the 
Fugitive Slave Law are hostile in character, subversive of the Constitution, and revolutionary 
in their effect. 

After debate, Mr. WALKER, of Alabama, obtained the floor, and presented the following 
paper to the Convention : 



To the Hon. Caleb Gushing, President of the Democratic Notional Convention, now in session in 
the City of Charleston, South Carolina. 

The undersigned Delegates, representing the State of Alabama in this Convention, r< 
fully beg leave to lay before your honorable, body the following statement of facts : 

On the eleventh day of January, 1860, the Democratic party of the State of Alabama met 
in Convention in the city of Montgomery, and adopted, with singular unanimity, a series of 
resolutions herewith submitted. 

RESOLUTIONS OF THE DEMOCRATIC STATE CONVENTION. 



1. Resolved by the Democracy of the State of Alabama, in Convention assembled, That holding 
all issues and principles upon which they have heretofore affiliated and acted with the National 
Democratic party to be inferior in dignity and importance to the great question of slavery, 
they content themselves with a general re-affirmance of the Cincinnati Platform as to BQch 
issues, and also endorse said platform as to slavery, together with the following resolutions : 

2. Resolved further, That we re-affirm so much of the first resolution of the Platform adopted 
in Convention by the Democracy of this State, on the 8th of January, 1856, as relates to the 
subject of slavery, to wit: " The unqualified right of the people of the slaveholding States to 
the protection of their property in the States, in the Territories, and in the wilderness in which 
Territorial Governments are as yet unorganized." 



3. Resolved further, That in order to meet and clear away all obstacles to a full enjoyment 
of this right iii the Territories, we re-affirm the principle of the 9th resolution of the Platform 
adopted in Convention by the Democracy of this State on the 14th of February, 18-18, to wit : 
" That it is the duty of the General Government, by all proper legislation, to secure an entry 
into those Territories to all the citizens of the United States, together with their property of every 
description, and that the same should remain protected by the United States while the Territories 
are under its authority." 

4. Resolved further, That the Constitution of the United States is a compact between sov- 
ereign and co-equal States, united upon the basis of perfect equality of rights and privileges. 

of Resolved further, That the Territories of the United States are common property, in 
which the States have equal rights, and to which the citizens of every State may rightfully 
emigrate with their slaves or other property, recognised as such in any of the States of the 
Union, or by the Constitution of the United States. 

G. Resolved further, That the Congress of the United States has no power to abolish slavery 
in the Territories, or to prohibit its introduction into any of them. 

7. Resolved further, That the Territorial Legislatures, created by the legislation of Con- 
gress, have no power to abolish slavery, or to prohibit the introduction of the same, or to im- 
pair, by unfriendly legislation, the security and Ml enjoymen' of the same within the Terri- 
tories ;"and such constitutional power certainly does not belong to the people of the Terri- 
tories in any capacity, before, in the exercise of a lawful authority, they form a Constitution 
preparatory to admission as a State into the Union ; and their action in the exercise of such 
lawful authority certainly cannot operate or take effect before their actual admission as a State 
into the Union. 

8. Resolved further, That the principles enunciated by Chief Justice Taney, in his opinion 
in the Dred Scott case, deny to the Territorial Legislature the power to destroy or impair, by 
any legislation whatever, the right of property.in slaves, and maintain it to be the duty of 
the Federal Government, in all of its departments, to protect the rights of the owner of such 
property in the Territories ; and the principles so declared are hereby asserted to be the rights 
of the South, and the South should maintain them. 

9. Resolved further, That we hold all of the foregoing propositions to contain cardinal prin- 
ciples — true in themselves, and just and proper, and necessary for the safety of all that is dear 
to us, and we do hereby instruct our Delegates to the Charleston Convention to present them 
for the calm consideration and approval of that bod}- — from whose justice and patriotism we 
anticipate their adoption. 

10. Resolved further, That our Delegates to the Charleston Convention are hereby expressly 
instructed to insist that said Convention shall adopt a platform of principles, recognising dis- 
tinctly the rights of the South as asserted in the foregoing resolutions ; and if the said Na- 
tional Convention shall refuse to adopt, in substance, the propositions embraced in the pre- 
ceding resolutions, prior to nominating candidates, our Delegates to said Convention are 
hereby positively instructed to withdraw therefrom. 

11. Resolved further, That our Delegates to the Charleston Convention shall cast the vote of 
Alabama as a unit, and a majority of our Delegates shall determine how the vote of this State 
shall be given. 

12. Resolved further, That an Executive Committee, to consist of one from each Congres- 
sional district, be appointed, whose duty it shall be, in the event that our Delegates withdraw 
from the Charleston Convention, in obedience to the 10th resolution, to call a Convention of 
the Democracy of Alabama, to meet at an early day to consider what is best to be done. 

Under these resolutions the undersigned received their appointment, and participated in the 
action of this Convention. 

By the resolution of instruction — the tenth in the series — we were directed to insist that the 
platform adopted by this Convention should .'embody "in substance," the propositions em- 
braced in the preceding resolutions, prior to nominating candidates. 

Anxious, if possible, to continue our relations with this Convention, and thus to maintain 
the nationality of the Democratic party, we agreed to accept as the substance of the Alabama 
Platform, either of the two reports submitted to this Convention by a majority of the Com- 
mittee on Resolutions — this majority representing not only a majority of the States of the 
Union, but also the only States at all likely to be carried by the Democratic party in the 
Presidential election. 

We beg to make these Reports parts of this communication : *■ 

PLATFORM FIRST MAJORITY REPORT. ♦ 

Resolved, That the Platform adopted at Cincinnati be affirmed with the following resolu- 
tions : 

1. That the National Democracy of the United States hold these cardinal principles on the 
subject of slavery in the Territories : First, That Congress has no power to abolish slavery in 



u 

the Territories. Second, That the Territorial Legislature has no power to abolish slavery in 
any Territory, nor to prohibit the introduction of slaves therein, nor any power to excludi- 
slavery therefrom, nor any power to destroy or impair the right of property in slaves by any 
legislation whatever. 

2. Resolved, That the enactments of State Legislatures to defeat the faithful execution of 
the Fugitive Slave Law are hostile in character, subversive of the Constitution, and revolu- 
tionary in their effect. 

3. Resolved, That it is the duty of the Federal Government to protect, when necessary, the 
rights of persons and property on the high seas, in the Territories, or wherever else its con- 
stitutional authority extends. 

4. Resolved, That the Democracy of the Nation recognise it as the imperative duty of this 
Government to protect the naturalized citizen in all his rights, whether at home or in foreign 
lands, to the same extent as its native-born citizens. 

5. Resolved, That the National Democracy earnestly recommend the acquisition of the Island 
of Cuba at the earliest practicable period. 

Whereas, That one of the greatest necessities of the age, in a political, commercial, postal 
and military point of view, is a rpeedy communication between the Pacific and Atlantic coasts: 
Therefore be it 

Resolved, That the National Democratic party do hereby pledge themselves to use every 
means in their power to secure the passage of some bill for the construction of a Pacific Rail- 
road from the Mississippi River to the Pacific Ocean, at the earliest praoticable moment. 

SECOXr> MAJORITY EEPOBT. 

Resolved, That the Platform adopted by the Democratic party at Cincinnati be affirmed, with 
the following explanatory resolutions: • 

First. That the Government of a Territory organized by an act of Congress is provisional 
and temporary, and during its existence all citizens of the United States have an equal right 
to settle with their property in the Territory, without their rights, either of person or prop- 
erty, being destroyed or impaired by Congressional or Territorial legislation. 

Second. That it is the duty of the Federal Government, in all its departments, to protect, 
when necessary, the rights of persons and property in the Territories, and wherever else iis 
constitutional authority extends. 

Third. That when the settlers in a Territory having an adequate population form a State 
Constitution, the right of sovereignty commences, and being consummated by admission into 
the Union, they stand on an equal footing with the people of other States, arid the State thus 
organized ought to be admitted into the Federal Union, whether its Constitution prohibits or 
recognises the institution of slavery. 

Resolved, That the Democratic party are in favor of the acquisition of the Island of Cuba 
on such terms as shall be honorable to ourselves and just to Spain, at the earliest practicable 
moment. 

Resolved, That the enactments of State Legislatures to defeat the faithful execution of the 
Fugitive Slave Law are hostile in character, subversive of the Constitution, and revolutionary 
in their effect. 

Resolved, That the Democracy of the United States recognise it as the imperative duty of 
this Government to protect the naturalized citizen in all his rights, whether at home or in for- 
eign lands, to the same extent as its native-born citizens. 

Whereas, One of the greatest necessities of the age, in a political, commercial, postal and 
military point of view, is a speedy communication between the Pacific and Atlantic coasts: 
Therefore be it 

Resolved, That the National Democratic party do hereby pledge themselves to use i 
means in their power to secure the passage of some bill, to the extent ©f the constitutional au- 
thority of Congress, for the construction of a Pacific Railroad from the Mississippi River to 
the Pacific Ocean, at the earliest practicable moment. 

These Reports received the endorsement, in the Committee on Resolutions, of every Southern 
State, and had either of them been adopted as the Platform of principles of the Democratic 
party, although, possibly, in some respects subject to criticism, we should not have felt our- 
selves in duty bound to withhold our acquiescence. 

But it has been the pleasure of this Convention, by an almost exclusive sectional vote, not 
representing a majority of the States, nor a majority of the Democratic electoral votes, to adopt 
a Platform which does qpt, in our opinion, nor in the opinion of those who urge it, embody 
in substance the principles of the Alabama Resolutions. 

That Platform is as follows: 

Resolved, That we, the Democracy of the Union in Convention assembled, hereby declare our 
affirmance of the Resolutions unanimously adopted and deelared as a Platform of Principles 



35 

by the Democratic Convention at Oincinnatti, in the year 1836, believing that Democratic 
principles are unchangeable in their nature, when applied to the same subject-matters. 

Resolved, That it is the duty of the United States to afford ample and complete protection to 
all its citizens, whether at home or abroad, and whether native or foreign born. 

Resolved, That one of the necessities of the age, in a military, commercial, and postal point 
of view, is speedy communication between the Atlantic and Pacific States; and the Democratic 
party pledge such Constitutional Government aid as will insure the construction of a Railroad 
to the Pacific coast, at the earliest practicable period. 

Resolved, That the Democratic party are in favor of the acquisition of the Island of Cuba, 
on such terms as shall be honorable to ourselves and just to Spain. 

Resolved, That the enactments of State Legislatures to defeat the faithful execution of the- 
Fugitive Slave Law are hostile in character, subversive of the Constitution and revolutionary 
in their effect. 

The points of difference between the Northern and Southern Democracy are: 
1st, As regards the status of slavery, as a political institution, in the Territories, whilst they 
remain in the Territories, and the power of the people of a Territory to exclude it by unfriendly 
legislation. 

And 2d. As regards the duty of the Federal Government to protect the owner of slaves in 
the enjoyment of his property in the Territories, so lonjr as they remain such. 

This Convention has refused, by the Platform adopted, to settle either of these propositions 
in favor of the South. We deny to the people of a Territory any power to legislate against 
the institution of slavery; and we assert that it is the duty of the Federal Government, in all 
its departments, to protect the owner of slaves in the enjoyment of his property in the Terri- 
tories. These principles, as we, state them, are embodied in the Alabama Platform. 

Here, then, is a plain, explicit, and direct issue between this Convention and the constitu- 
ency which we have the honor to represent in this body. 

Instructed, as we are, not to waive this issue, the contingency, therefore, has arisen when, in 
our opinion, it becomes our duty to withdraw from this Convention. 

We beg, sir, to communicate this fact through you, and to assure the Convention that we 
do so in no spirit of auger, but under a sense of imperative obligation — properly appreciating 
its responsibilities, and cheerfully submitting to its consequences. 
L.P.WALKER, Chairman. JOHN W. PORTIS, 

F. S. LYON, F. G. NORMAN, 

JOHN A. WINSTON, J. C. GUILD, 

H. D. SMITH, JULIUS C. B. MITCHELL, 

JOHN ERWIN, W. C. SHERROD, 

W. L. YANCEY, G. G. GRIFFIN, 

D. W. BAINE, J. T. BRADFORD, 

N. H. R. DAWSON, T. J. BURNETT, 

R. M. PATTON, A. G. HENRY. 

W. C. McIVER, WILLIAM M. BROOKS, 

P. 0. HARPER, R. CHAPMAN. 

LEWIS L. CATO, 
te appointed, though not participating in the Convention.] « 

ROBERT G. SCOTT. THOS. B. COOPER, 

A. B. MEEK, PEYTON G. KING, 

J. R. BREARE, W. G. GARRETT, 

A. W. DILLARD, M. J. BOLGER. 

Judge Meek offered the following resolution, which was unanimously adopted: 

Resolved, That in the event the Alabama Delegation should withdraw from the Convention, 
no delegate or any other person shall thenceforward have any authority to represent Alabama 
upon the floor of the Convention, or to cast the vote of Alabama therein; and that our Chair- 
man be instructed so to inform said Convention. 

Mr. BARRY, of Mississippi, next arose. He was desired to state to the Convention, on the 
part of the Delegation from Mississippi, that under the authority from which they derive their 
powers they can have no further connection with this Convention. They had a protest to 
present to the Convention which, by some accident, was not in his possession, but would be 
presently presented. They had also adopted a resolution that no one could represent the State 
of Mississippi in the Convention. ' 

The protest was afterwards presented, by Mr. Glenn, as follows: 

To the President of the Democratic Convention: 

Sir: As Chairman of the Delegation which has the honor to represent the State of Missis- 
sippi on this floor, I desire to be heard by you and by the Convention, 



36 

In common consultation we have met here, the representatives of sister States, to resolve 
the principles of a great party. While maintaining principles, we profess no spirit save that 
of harmony, conciliation, the success of our party, and the safety of our organization. But 
to the former the latter must yield, for no organization is valuable without it. and no success 
is honorable which does not crown it. 

We came here simply asking a recognition of the equal rights of our State under the laws 
and Constitution of our common Government; that our right to property should be asserted. 
and the protection of that property, when necessary, should be yielded by the Government 
which claims our allegiance. We had regarded government and protection as co-relative 
ideas, and that so long as the one was maintained the other still endured. 

After a deliberation of many days, it has been announced to us by a controlling majority 
of Representatives of nearly one-half the States of this Union, and that, too, in the most solenm 
and impressive manner, that our demand cannot be met, and our rights cannot be recognised. 
While it is granted that the capacity of the Federal Government is ample to protect all 
other property within its jurisdiction, it is claimed to be impotent when called upon to act 
in favor of a species of property reorganised in fifteen sovereign States. Within those States 
even Black Republicans admit it to be guarantied by the Constitution, and to be only assailed 
by a Higher Law; without them they claim the right to prohibit or destroy it. The con- 
trolling majority of Northern Representatives on this floor, while they deny all power to de- 
stroy, equally deny all power to protect; and this, they assure us, is, and must, and shall be 
the condition of our co-operation in the next Presidential election. 

In this state of affairs our duty is plain and obvious. The State which sent us here, an- 
nounced to us her principles. In common with seventeen of her sister States, she has asked a 
recognition of her Constitutional rights. These have been plainly and explicitly denied to her. 
We have offered to yield everything except an abandonment of her rights — everything except 
her honor — and it has availed us nothing. 

As the representatives of Mississippi, knowing her wishes — as honorable men, regarding 
her commands— we withdraw from the Convention, and, as far as our action is concerned, ab- 
solve her from all connection with this body, and all responsibility for its action. 

To you, sir, as presiding officer of the Convention while it has existed in its integrity, we 
desire, collectively as a Delegation, and individually as men, to tender the highest assurances 
of cur profound respect and consideration. 

[Signed] D. C. GLEN, 

, Chairman of the Mississippi Delegation. 

GEO. H. GORDON, ISAAC ENLOE, 

JAS. DRANE, CHAS. ED WD HOOKER. 

BEVERLY MATHEWS, W. H. TISON, 

J. T. SIMMS, ETHELBERT BARKSDALE. 

JOS. R. DAVIS, W. S. BARRY, 

W. S. WILSON, J. M. THOMPSON. 

Mr. MOTITON, of Louisiana. I have but a short communication to make to this con- 
vention. I do not do so in my individual name. I am instructed by the delegates of Louisi- 
ana, whom I represent, to say that they will not participate any more in the proceedings of 
this Convention. Heretofore we have been in the habit of saving that the Democracy of the 
country were harmonious; but can we say so to-day with any truth? Are we not divided, 
and divided in such a manner that we can never be again united and reconciliated, be 
we are divided upon principle? Can we adopt this Platform voted lor by the majority of the 
Convention? Can we go home to our constituents and put one construction upon it, and the 
Northern Democrats another? No. I think I speak the sentiment of my State when I say. 
ir.he never will place a double construction upon a Platform. 

If we are to fight the Black Republicans, let us do it with a bold front, and together. Let 

us take the same arms — let us sustain the same regiment. We say that the Douglas principles. 

adopted to-day by the majority, can never be the principles of the i^outh. And let me say, 

at thesame time, that I should have suggested the propriety of dispensing with all these votes. 

and have come at once to the conclusion we have now reached. 

Mr. M. then argued on the principles of the two Platforms, and declined his conviction that 

the only way to meet and to check Black Republican aggression was to adopt the doctrine of 

protection by Congress to the property of Southern citizens in all the Territories of the I'uion. 

He withdrew, with his colleagues, from the Convention. 

Mr. JAMES SIMONS, of South Carolina, next arose. He was instructed by his Delegation 

to present to this Convention the protest of the State against its action, signed by all but 

three members of the Delegation. He read the protest as follows: 

To the Hon. Caleb Cashing, of the Charleston Contention: 

We, the undersigned, Delegates appointed by the Democratic State Convention of South 
Carolina, beg leave respectfully to state that, according to the principles enunciated in their 



37 

Platform at Columbia, the power either of the Federal Government or of its agent, the Terri- 
torial Government, to abolish or legislate against property in slaves, by either direct or in- 
direct legislation, is explicitly denied; and as the Platform adopted by this Convention pal- 
pably and intentionally pretermits any expression affirming the incapacity of the Territorial 
Government so to legislate, they would not be acting in good faith to their principles, or in . 
accordance with the wishes of their constituents, to longer remain in this Convention. They 
therefore rvspeetfullv announce their withdrawal. 

JAMES SIMONS, 
S. McGOWAN. 
B. H. WILSON, 
R. B. BOYLSTOX, 

Delegates from the Staie at large. 
JAS. H. WITHERSPOOX, * 
E.W. CHARLES, 
Delegates from 1st Congressional district. 
G. X. REYNOLDS, Jr.. 
Til')?. Y. SIMONS, 
Delegates from 'Id Congressional district. 
' JAMES PATTERSON, 
B. H. RROWX. 
Delegates from 3d Congressional distrkt. 

J. A. METTS, 
Delegati from 4th Congressional district. 
' JOHN S. PRESTON. * 
FRXKLIX GAILLARD, 
Delegates from Gth Congressional district. 

Mr. MILTOX. of Florida, presented the protest of that State, as follows: 

To the Hon. Caleb Gushing. President of the Democratic National Convention: 

The undersigned Democratic Delegates from the State of Florida enter this, their solemn 
protest, against the action of the Convention in voting down the Platform of the majority. 

Florida, with her Southern sisters, is entitled to a clear and unambiguous recognition of 
her rights in the Territories, and- this being refused by the rejection of the majority report, 
we protest against receiving the Cincinnati Platform with the interpretation that it favors the 
doctrine of Squatter Sovereignty in the Territories, which doctrine, in the name of the people 
represented by us, Ave repudiate. 

T. J. EPPES, 

B. F. WARDLAW, 
JOHX MILTOX, 

J. B. OWENS, 

C. F. DYKE,' 
Delegates from 'Florida. 

The Delegates from Florida, before retiring, have adopted the following resolution: 
Resolved, That no person not a regularly appointed Delegate has a right to cast the vote of 
the State of Florida in this Convention." 

JOHX MILTOX. 

C h a irman J delegation . 

Mr. BRYAN, of Texas, presented the following and withdrew: 

Hon. Caleb Gushing, President of the Democratic National Convention: 

The undersigned, Delegates from the State of Texas, would respectfully protest against the 
late action of this Convention, in refusing to adopt the report of the majority of the Com- 
mittee on Resolutions, which operates as the virtual adoption of principles affirming doctrines 
in opposition to the decision of the Supreme Court in the Dred Scott case, and in conflict with 
■ the Federal Constitution, and especially opposed to the Platform of the Democratic party of 
Texas, which declares — 

1st. That the Democratic party of the State of Texas re-affirm and concur in the principles 
contained in the Platform of the National Democratic Convention held at Cincinnati in June, 
1856, as a true expression of political faith and opinion, and herewith re-assert and set forth 
the principles therein contained, as embracing the only doctrine which can preserve the in- 
tegrity or the Union and the equal rights of the States, '■' 'expressly rejecting any interpretation 
thereof favoring the doctrine known as Squatter Sovereignty," and that we will continue to ad- 



38 

here to and abide by the principles and doctrines of the Virginia and Kentucky resolutions of 
1798 and 1799, and Mr. Madison's report relative thereto. 

2d. That it is the right of every citizen to take his property of any kind, including slaves, 
into the common territory belonging equally to all the States of the Confederacy, and to have 
it protected there under the Federal Constitution. Neither Congress nor a Territorial Legis- 
lature, nor any human power, has any authority, either directly or indirectly, to impair these 
sacred rights; and they having been affirmed by the decision of the Supreme Court in the 
Dred Scott case, we declare that it is the duty of the Federal Government, the common agent' 
of all the States, to establish such government and enact such laws for the Territories, and so 
change the same from time to time as may be necessary to insure protection and preservation 
of these rights, and prevent every infringement of the same. The affirmation of this principle 
of the duty of Congress to simply protect the rights of property is nowise in conflict with the 
heretofore established and well recognised principles of the Democratic party, that Congress 
does not possess the power to legislate slavery into the Territories, or to exclude it therefrom. 
Recognising- these declarations of principles as instructions to us for our government in the 
National Convention, and believing that a repudiation of them by all of the Northern States, 
except the noble States of Oregon and California, the whole vote of which is more than doubt- 
ful in the ensuing Presidential election, demand- from us our unqualified disapproval. 

The undersigned do not deem this the place or time to discuss the practical illustration that 
has been given of the irrepressible conflict between the Northern and Southern States that ha.-* 
prevailed in this Convention for the last week. 

It is sufficient to say that if the principles of the Northern Democracy are properly repre- 
sented by the opinion and aetion of the majority of the Delegates from that section on this 
floor, we do not hesitate to declare that their principles are not. only not our*, but, if adhered 
to and enforced by them, will destroy this Union. 

In consideration of the foregoing facts, we cannot remain in the Convention. We conse- 
quently respectfully withdraw, leaving no one authorized to cast the vote of the Stat" of 
Texas. A 

GUY M. BRYAN, Chairman. WM.'-R OCHILTREE. 

F. R. LUBBOOK. M. W. COVEY. 

F. S. STOCKDALE. WJI. H. PARSONS. 

E. GREER. R. WARD. 

II. R. RUNNELS. J. F. CROSBY. 

Messrs. BURROWS and JOHNSON, of Arkansas, spoke on behalf of that State, read their 
protest and withdrew. 

The following is the protest: 

Hon. Caleb Cashing, President of Charleston Convention: 

The undersigned Delegates, accredited by the Democracy of Arkansas to represent said De- 
mocracy in the Convention of the Democracy of the United States, assembled on the 23d of 
April, 1860, beg leave to submit the following protest against certain actions of this Conven- 
tion, and statement of the causes which, in their opinion, require them to retire fro: 
Convention. 

1st. The Convention of the Democracy of the State of Arkansas, convened at Little Rock 
on the 2d day of April, 1860, passed, among other things, the following resolutions, viz: 

1st. Resolved, We, the Democracy of Arkansas, through our representatives in Convention 
assembled, proclaim our confidence in the virtue and "intelligence of the people, and am 
faith in the principles of the Democracy . 

2d. We re-affirm the politicnl principles enunciated in the Cincinnati Platform by the de- 
mocracy of the United States in June, 185G, and assert as illustrative thereof, that neither 
Congress nor a Territorial Legislature, whether by direct legislation or by legislation of an 
indirect and unfriendly character-, possesses the power to annul or impair the Constitutional 
rights of any citizen of the United States to take his slave property into the common Territo- 
ries, and there hold and enjoy the same, and that if experience should at any time prove that 
the judiciary and executive power do not possess the means to insure protection to Constitu- 
tional rights in a Territory, and if the Territorial Government should fail or refuse to pro- 
vide the necessary remedies for that purpose, it will be the duty of Congress to supply the de- 
ficiency. 

3d. That the representatives of the Democracy of Arkansas in the Charleston Convention 
be instructed to insist upon the recognition by said Convention of the purpose hereinbefore 
declared, prior to balloting for any candidate for the Presidency, and if said Convention re- 
fuse to recognise the rights of the South in the Territories of" the United Slates, the repre- 
sentatives of the Democracy of Arkansas be instructed to retire from said Convention, and 
refuse to aid in the selection of any candidate whomsoever by said Convention. 

4th. That the unity of the Democratic party and the safety of the South demands the adop- 
tion of the- two- thirds rule by the Charleston Convention of the Democracy of the United 



States, and that our Delegates to said Convention be required to insist upon and maintain the 
adoption thereof as rai indispensable necessity. 

Tn accordance with the instructions contained in resolution 3d. above, one of the under- 
signed had the honor, on the second day of the session of this Convention, to offer to the 
consideration of this Convention the following resolution, viz: •' Resolved, That the Conven- 
tion will not proceed to nominate a candidate for the Presidency until the platform shall have 
been made." Which said resolution was passed by the Convention by great unanimity. 
Subsequently the Committee on Resolutions and Platforms, appointed by the Convention, in 
accordance with the usages and custom of the Democratic party of the United States, agreed 
upon and reported to this Convention a platform of principles, recognising the principle con- 
tained in the resolutions of the Democracy of Arkansas, above recited, and fully asserting the 
equal rights of the Southern States in the common Territories of the United States, and the 
duty of the Federal Government to protect those rights when necessary, according to the 
usages and customs of the DemocTacy of the United States, as developed by the practice of 
said Democracy assembled in Conventions on former occasions, and in strict accordance, as is 
Relieved by the undersigned, with the compact and agreement made by and between the De- 
mocrats of the several States, upon which the Conventions a& the Democracy of the United 
States were agreed first to be founded, and assented to by the several Southern States. The re- 
port and determination of the Committee on Platform became and was henceforward, as the 
platforms of the Democracy of the United States, and this Convention had no duty to per- 
form in relation thereto, but to receive, confirm and publish the same, and cause it to be car- 
ried into effect wherever in the respective States the Democracy were able to enforce their de- 
crees at the ballot-bos. 

The undersigned are confirmed in this opinion by reference not only to the history of the 
past, which shows that in all instances the sovereignty of the States, and not the electoral 
votes of the States, has uniformly been represented in the Committee on Platforms, and that 
the report of the Committee has invariably been registered as the supreme law of the Demo- 
cratic party by unanimous consent of the entire Conventions, without changing or in any 
inanner altering any part or portion thereof. It is asserted as a part of our traditional learn- 
ing, and confidently believed, that the Democracy of the United States, by a peculiar system 
of checks and balances, formed after the fashion of the Federal Government, were contracted 
and bound themselves to fully recognise the sovereignty of the States in making the Platform, 
and the population or masses of the States, in naming the candidate to be placed on the Plat- 
form. That many States have been uniformly allowed to vote the full strength of their elec- 
toral college in these Conventions, when it was well known that said States had never here- 
tofore, and probably would never hereafter, give a single electoral vote at the polls to the 
candidate which they had so large a share in nominating, cannot be accounted for on any 
other principle than that it was intended only as a recognition of the sovereignty and equalitv 
of said States. 

Would it be right at this time for the numerical majority to deprive all the Black Re- 
publican States represented on this floor by their representatives, which by custom they have 
so long enjoyed, simply because it is noAV evident that they are or will be unable to vote the 
Democratic ticket in the next Presidential election? 

By common consent we say that a reckless numerical majority should not be thus allowed 
to tread under foot the vested rights of those States, and the well established usages and cus- 
toms of the party 

If thus it be wroug for the numerical majority to deprive the Black Republican States of 
this long vested right, how much more unjust is it for the numerical majority to deprive all 
the States of their vested right to make and declare the Platform in the tfeual and customary 
manner ? And when we call to mind that the numerical majority resides chiefly in the Black 
Republican States, to whom the South has uniformly accorded so large a. privilege, in naming 
candidates who were alone to be elected by Southern votes, we have much reason to believe 
that he to whom you gave an inch seems emboldened thereby to demand an ell. 

The undersigned beg leave to state that many patriotic States Right Democrats, in the 
South, have long contended that these Conventions of the Democracy, representing in fact the 
whole consolidated strength of the Union, acting through party sympathy upon the individual 
members of society, would ultimate in a despotic, colossal centralism, possessed of power to 
over-ride and destroy at its will and pleasure the Constitutions and reserved rights of any and 
all the States. The South, however, has heretofore felt safe because of the checks and balances 
imposed upon the machinery of the Conventions. The South felt that where she retained an 
equal power- to write the creed of faith, she could trust her Northern sisters, with their im- 
mense populations, to name the candidate; and all would alike support the creed and the can- 
didate. 

The undersigned, well knowing the hostilty of the Northern masses towards the "peculiar 
institutions" of the South, and calling to mind the relative numbers of the Northern and 
Southern States, assert with confidence that no Southern State in the Union would ever have 
consented to surrender so abjectly and hopelessly, all their fortunes to the numerical majority 
who have just now voted to set aside the Platform, unless upon the full assurance that the 



40 

States were ontitled by agreement to make and establish the creed of faith, and prescribe the 
rule of action. This Violation of plighted faith on the part of the numerical majority — this 
violation of the well established usage and custom of the party — drive us to the conclusion 
that we cannot longer trust the fortunes of the slaveholding States to the chances of a numeri- 
cal majority in a Convention, where all the Black Kepublicans of the Union, the immense 
populations of Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania and Ohio, and other Northern States, 
are fully represented, on the one side, against the small populations from the slave States on 
the other— had these populations adhered strictly to the usages and customs of the party, 
longer associations might have been practicable; but annihilation is staring us in the face, and 
we are admonished of our duty to stand upon our reserved rights: 

We declare, therefore, that we believe our mission to this Convention at an end. 

1st. Because the numerical majority have usurped the prerogatives of the States in setting 
aside the Platform, made by the States, and have thus unsettled the basis of this Convention, 
and thereby permanently disorganized its Constitution. Its decrees, therefore, becomes null 
and void. 

2. Because we were positively instructed by the Democracy of Arkansas to insist on the re 
cognition of the equal rights r of the South in common Territories, and protection in tho&e 
rights by the Federal Government, prior to any nomination of a candidate, and a6 this Conven- 
tion has refused to recognise the principle required by the State of Arkansas, in her popular 
Convention first, and twice subsequently re-a9serted by Arkansas, together with all her South- 
ern sisters, in the report of Platform to this Convention, and as we cannot serve two masters, 
we are determined first to serve the Lord our God; we cannot ballot for any candiduu- 
whatever. 

3d. In retiring, we deny to any person or persons any right whatever to cast hereafter, in 
this Convention, either our vote or the vote of Arkansas in any propositions which may or can 
possibly come up for consideration. The Delegates of Arkansas cannot take any part in 
placing a sound candidate on an unsound Platform, because it would disgrace any sound 
Southern man who would consent to stand on such a Platform; and as a Squatter Sovereignty 
Platform has been adopted, we believe good faith and honor requires that the Chief of Squatter 
Sovereignty should be placed on it, we wish no part or lot in such misfortune, nor do 
we believe* that we can safely linger under the shade of the upas tree this day planted cer- 
tainly. 

1'. JORDAN, 
B. BURROW. 
VAN H. MANNING. 

Mr. JACKSON, of Georgia, moved that all the papers presented by the seceding Delegation* 
be entered on the proceedings of the Convention. Carried. 

Mr. RUSSELL, of Virginia, made an eloquent appeal on behalf of the South, and stated th.it 
Virginia would pause ere she decided what her course would be. 

Mr. BAYARD, of Delaware, said that it had been his purpose to have addressed the Con- 
vention on the subjects which had agitated the Convention, but he found that his voice fras 
unable to meet the effort. Ik now should only trespass on the Convention for a sufficient 
time to state the reasons which dictate to him, at this time, the propriety of withdrawing 
from this Convention. In this determination he was seconded by the opinion of Mr. YVhitely. 
his immediate colleague. 

Their views were similar, and hence he felt less hesitation in deciding at once upon his 
course, although one of his Delegation was absent, and he was not yet aware what the remain- 
ing three would find it their duty to do. His constituents sent him here to act with a Con- 
vention representing all the States of the Union. He found a difference in the Convention 
on a matter of principle; but this would not have been sufficient, in his judgment, to justify 
his withdrawal* from this body. But he now found thatsix States of the Union had withdrawn 
from the Convention, and he therefore could no longer remain in its. body. 

Mr. SALISBURY, of Delaware, desired simply to state to the Convention that Circumsl 
had arisen, since he came here, which were not anticipated by his constituents. Two of his 
colleagues had taken their course and withdrawn from the Convention. He would say that 
no man was more thoroughly devoted to Democratic principles, as understood by Southern 
men, than he was. Under the circumstances that had arisen, he knew not now what to do. 
He would desire time to consult and decide upon what course the majority should pursue. 

Mr. MERRICK, of Illinois, took the floor, but gave way to a motion to adjourn: and the 
Convention adjourned to 10 A. M. to-mornnv. 



41 

EIGHTH DAY., 

MORNING SESSION. 

Charleston, May 1, 1860. 

The Convention was called to order at half-past 10 o'clock. 

Prayer was delivered by the Rev. Mr. Ingoldsby. 

Mr. BENNING, of Georgia, rose to a question of privilege. Yesterday evening the Georgia 
Delegation begged leave to retire, to consult- on the course they would pursue in relation to 
the events of the day. The had considered the questions involved, with as much deliberation 
as they could bestow upon them. The conclusion at which thdg had arrived was embraced in 
two resolutions, which set forth the action of the Convention, and declared the determination 
of the Delegation to withdraw from the Convention, and act no further with it. This resolu- 
tion they had directed him to communicate to the Convention. The resolution was signed by 
twenty-two of the Delegates without any reservation. Two of the remainder had added an 
explanatory note. The Delegation consists of thirty -six. He had now discharged his duty. 

The Delegation then withdrew. 

Mr. COCHRANE, of New York, rose to a question of privilege, but gave way to Mr. John- 
son, of Arkansas. 

Mr. JOHNSON, of Arkansas, said he had come here to tell the Convention whst he and the 
colleague who acted with him had resolved to do at this time. They had deeply considered 
the matter, and felt it an imperative duty they owed to the South to join those who had with- 
drawn from the Convention. [Loud applause in the gallery, which was checked by the Chair.] 
He desired to ask the Democratic party of the North, to say whether the principles embodied 
in the Platform adopted by the Convention were just, fair and honorable towards the South? 

Mr. SMITH, of Wisconsin, called the gentleman from Arkansas to order. He was making 
a sectional appeal. 

Mr. JOHNSON did not understand the Platform of the majority to be sectional, and that 
was the Platform he was about to discuss. He would, howevsr, content himself with asking 
that a communication in the possession of his colleague, Mr. Terry, be read in the Convention. 

Mr. TERRY, of Arkansas, said he was instructed, by a portion of the Delegation of Arkan- 
sas, to submit the following communication to the Convention: 

To the Hon. Caleb Cushiny, President National Democratic Convention: 

The undersigned, Delegates from Arkansas, ask permission to make the following statement: 
We have thug far abstained from taking any active part in the measures which were consum- 
mated on yesterday, in this Convention, by the withdrawal, in whole or in part, of several 
Southern States. "We have counseled our Southern friends to patience and forbearance; and 
while we were conscious of causes sufficient to induce them to this step, yet we still hoped some 
more auspicious event would transpire that might avert its necessity. Nothing has occurred 
to palliate these causes. Hence we cannot hesitate in our course, and, therefore, ask permission 
to withdraw, and surrender to our State the high trust reposed in us. 

To you, sir, who have with so much ability presided over our deliberations, and meted out 
justice with an even hand, we part with sorrow, hoping that the cloud which now hangs over 
our beloved country may be dispelled, and her counsels directed by some statesman like vour- 
self — able, honest, just and true. 

FRANCIS A. TERRY, Vice-President. 
J. P. JOHNSON, Chairman of Delegation. 
F. W. HOADLEY, Secretary from Arkansas. 

Charleston, S. C, May 1, I860. 

Mr. EWING, of Tennessee, had intended this morning to be h&ard on -the present condition 
of the party. But he understood there was a proposition to be submitted to this Convention 
which might reconcile the present difficulties. His Delegation desired to retire now to consult 
on the proper course to pursue. 

Mr. RUSSELL, of Virginia, said that Virginia was at the present time occupied in consider- 
ing the important events which were transpiring around them. They would take their course 
deliberately and firmly, and when taken it would be found consistent with the honor of the 
State, and would be firmly maintained. In the meantime he moved a recess for one hour. 
[Cries of "No!" "no!"] He then asked leave for the Virginia Delegation to withdraw for 
consultation. 



42 

The PRESIDENT. The Chair will understand that the Delegates have leave to retire. 

Mr. CALDWELL, of Kentucky, said that the Kentucky Delegation asked leave to retire a 
few minutes for consultation. 

The PRESIDENT. The Chair will understand that leave is granted. 

A KENTUCKY DELEGATE, from his seat. Only a portion, sir. Some do not desire to 
retire. 

The Delegation of North Carolina also asked and obtained leave to retire for consultation. 

Mr. STEVENS, of Massachusetts, moved that the retiring Delegates have leave to occupy 
seats on the floor, in order that they may witness the completion of the duties in which they 
have partially shared, and for which this Convention was assembled. [Cries of "No! no!"] 

Mr. STEVENS withdrew his motion. 

Mr. COHEN, of Georgia, said he stood here in an anomalous position. He stood here in a 
minority, representing his State, a majority of whom had thought fit to retire from th« Con- 
vention. 

The Maryland Delegation here asked leave to withdraw for consultation. 

Mr. FLOURNOY, of Arkansas, addressed the Convention. 

Mr. GOULDEN, of Georgi i,; explained that he did not act with the Delegates from his 
State who had left the Convention. 

Mr. McCOOK, of Ohio, moved the adoption of the following resolution: 

Resolved, That this Convention will proceed at 2 p. m. of this day, by a call of the States, 
to nominate a candidate for President, and immediately thereafter to nominate a candidate for 
the Vice Presidency of the United States. 

Mr. RAFFERTY, of New Jersey, on the part of his Delegation, presented the following pro- 
test against the vote of the House, overruling the decision of the Chair, on the controversy 
respecting the casting of the vote of that State. 

The undersigned, Delegates from the State of New Jersey to the National Domocratic Con- 
vention at Charleston, and representing a large majority of the Democracy of that State, in 
view of the decision made by the said Convention on the morning of the 30th April, 1860, 
denying to the majority of said Delegates the right of representing their State in the manner 
provided by tkeir Stale Convention, held on the 28th of March, ISOu, in the following words, 
to wit: 

"Resolved, That we recommend to the Representatives of this State to the Charleston Con- 
vention to cast on all occasions that may arise in that Convention a united vote*' — do hereby 
solemnly and earnestly protest airainst such decision, for the following reasons: 

First Because it is the duty of the Representatives to obey the will and carry out the wishes 
of their constituents. 

Second. Because a rule of the National Convention depriving all Delegations whose manner 
of voting may have been provided for by their respective State Conventions from casting indi- 
vidual votes. 

Third. Because, under the above rule, and in obedience to its requirement, the Delegates 
of the State of Georgia, by the unquestioned rifling of the President .of the Convention, were 
deprived of the privilege of voting according to their individual judgment. 

Fourth. Because the consistent ruling of the President of the Convention was.ovcrruled by 
a majority of the votes of Delegations who were themselves under the constraint of provisions 
made by their respective State Conventions. 

Therefore the undersigned hold that the rights of the sovereign State of New Jersey have 
been infringed to its great wrong and detriment, and solemnly protest against the same. 

Done at Charleston, this first day of Mar, in the year one thousand eight hundred and sixty . 

J. VAN ARSDALE. 
For Fifth Congressional District, 
WILLIAM WRIGHT. 
JOHN C. RAFFERT1 . 
A. U. SPBER, 
JOHN RENYLER. 
I )A\ ID NAAK. 
S. DOUGHTY . 
SAMUEL HANNA. 

Mr. PUGH suggested that the Delegations from several States having obtained consent to 
retire, it was a breach of privilege to take the vote in their absence on such a motion. 

The PRESIDENT. The Chair thinks that since the House had had unanimous consent to 
retire for consultation, it had virtually agreed not to divide the House during their absence. 

A number of delegates explained their positions. 

Mr. HOWARD, of Tennessee, had been instructed to ask of the Convention the recognition 
of Congressional protection, lie read, on the part of Tennessee and her sister State of Ken- 
tucky, which stood between the two extremes of the country, the following resolutiqa, which 
he believed would re-unite the North and the South, and was the ultimatum of the South: 



43 

Resolved, That all the citizens of the United States have an equal right to settle, with their 
property, in the Territories of the United States, and that, under the decisions of the Supreme 
Court of the United States, which we recognise as a correct exposition of the Constitution of 
the United States, neither their rights of person nor property can he destroyed or impaired by 
Congressional or Territorial legislation. 

He also presented a resolution, declaring that on the ballot for President and Vice-President, 
no person should be declared to be nominated who did not receive two-thirds of all the votes 
the full Convention was entitled to cast. 

Mr. RUSSELL, of Virginia, rose for the purpose of explaining the position of Virginia. 
The Delegation believed, so far as the Platform is concerned, the resolution read by the gentle- 
man from Tennessee formed a reasonable basis for a Union of the North and the South. It 
affirms the decision in the Supreme Court, in the Dred Scott case, and goes no further. So 
far as the second resolution was" concerned relating to the selection of a candidate for the 
Presidency, they believed that if the selection of a candidate was made, national in its charac- 
ter, the South would support them, no matter what the action of delegates might be. It might 
be suspected that the resolution was aimed at one particular candidate. It was not so. Vir- 
ginia only desired to receive the nationality of the nomin, . The South would only be 
represented negatively in the choice, for her absent votes coujd not be counted in the affirmative 
for any candidate. They believed, too, that the true interpretation of the rule would require 
the votes of two-thirds of the representation to nominate, and not two-thjrds of those present, 
alone. Unless the resolution he offered should be adopted, he was not instructed to cast the 
vote of Virginia on any question at present in this Convention. 

Mr. CALDWELL, of Kentucky, said the Delegation of Kentucky bad preserved silence 
here up to this time. They had come here only for purposes of harmony. The Delegation 
regretting deeply the scenes that had occurred, desired to bring about peace and re-union. 
When the Delegation had retired for consultation, and had decided that the adoption of the 
resolution read by the gentleman from Tennessee would be acceptable to Kentucky, and 
would, they believe, bring back those who had left the Convention, the Kentucky Delegation 
had also taken action on the two-third rule, and had decided that the proper construction of 
the two-third rule was, that it required two-thirds of the vote of the Electoral College to elect. 
He now moved toadjonrn until 9 o'clock to-morrow morning. 

The vote was taken py States on the motion to adjourn. 

When Georgia was called, the vote of Georgia was challenged. 

Mr. COHEN, of Georgia, explained that Georgia was represented here by ten Delegates, 
who refused to withdraw. The Delegates were requested by their State to cast their votes in 
Convention as a unit. The act of withdrawal had been done by the majority out of ths Con- 
vention, not in it. He claimed the right of the remaining Delegates to cast the vote of the 
State. 

The PRESIDENT decided, that as the State had ordered the majority of the Delegates to 
vote, and as that majority had officially represented to the Convention that they had concluded 
to withdraw, the minority had no right to represent the State. 

Mr. HOLDEN, of Tennessee, appealed from the decision of the Chair. 

After further debate, the decision of the Chair was sustained by 148 ayes to 100 nays. 

Mr. SEWARD, of Georgia, protested against the act of injustice to the State, and withdrew 
from the Convention. 

The previous question on the motion of Mr. Howard was then seconded. 

The Convention then adjourned till 5 o'clock p. m. 



AFTERNOON SESSION. 

The Convention re-assembled at half-past 5 o'clock. 

The CHAIR, before proceeding to business, will beg to lay before the Convention a paper 
from Mr. Mouton, of the Louisiana Delegation, in regard to an oral communication made by 
that gentleman yesterday. 

The document was filed. 

Mr. HOWARD, of Tennessee, rose to a privileged question — 'moved to take up resolutions he 
offered this morning. 

The CHAIR. What is the gentleman's proposition? 

Mr. HOWARD. There were two propositions — one in regard to the manner in which the 
Convention will ballot for President and Vice President, and" the other in regard to the power 
of Congress and Territorial Legislatures in interfering with the question of slavery. 

The CHAIR. This is not a privileged question. 

Mr. HOWARD. Then I will state it as a privileged \question. 

Mr. RUSSELL, of Virginia, wished to state that the decision which the Chair makes on this 
question now, will decide whether Virginia will longer partake in the proceedings of the Con- 
vention, t 



44 



Mr. STUART. It is perfectly plain that the main question having been seconded, it must 
he put to the House at once. 

The question, shall the main question be now put, was then put, and the motion carried by 
the following vote: 



Teas. 

Maine •'■ 

New Hampshire 5 

Vermont 5 

Massachusetts 6 

Rhode Island 4 

Connecticut 3 j 

New York 35 

New Jersey ? 

Pennsylvania '•• 9$ 

Delaware 

Maryland 

,,. *\ . 

Virginia 

North Carolina «' 

South Carolina >0 

Georgia " 

Florida 

Alabama " 



*] 



Nays. 






Nayi 



o 













oi 


Mississppi 

Texas 

Arkansas 

.Missouri 


1 

4|' 

1 


1 1 







Kentucky 

Ohio 




23 


12 




1GA ■ 




13 


n 


2 

5 
15 


Illinois 

Michigan 


1! 






10 ; 
ii 


Iowa 


4 

2} 



4 







California 

Oregon 








14 






When Georgia wae called, Mr. HOLDEN said: Twenty -six of the Delegates from Georgia have 
seceded from this Convention— eleven remain in the Convention. As they have been disfran- 
chised by the action of the Convention, they have nothing further to say. 

The question was then put on Mr. McCook's motion, and the same was adopted. 

The proposition of Mr. Howard, declaring that the President, would not declare any candi- 
date elected who did not receive two-thirds of the vote of the Electoral College, was then 
brought forward as a question of privilege. 

The CHAIR is of opinion that this proposition of the State of Tennessee, involving the ques- 
tion as to how the Chair will decide the vote on the election of the candidate for the Presi- 
dency, is in order. 

Mr. RICHARDSON moved bo lay the resolution of the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. 
Howard) on the table. 

The vote was taken by States, and the motion to laj on the table v, 



Ycax. 

Maine •' 

New Hampshire 5 

Vermont. 5 

Massachusetts 4£ 

Rhode Island * 

Connecticut '■-•■■ 

New York 

New Jersey H 

Pennsylvania 1" 

Delaware ( | 

Maryland 2 

Virginia " 

North Carolina 

South Carolina " 

Georgia 

Florida ° 

Alabama 



Nays, 
?, 



Nays. 

Louisiana 

Mississippi 

Texas i 

Arkansas 1 

Missouri 4j 4 A 

Tennessee I ll" 

Kentucky n 13 

Ohio 23 

Indiana 

Illinois 11 (i 

Michigan 6 

Wisconsin 5 

Iowa i 

Minnesota 2\ 

California 4 

Oregon 3 

ill.', 1-11 



The question then being on Mr. Howard's resolution, Mr. STUART, of Michigan, raised the 
point of order that the effect of the resolution was to change the rule of the Convention, and 
must lie over. He read the rule, which was that "two thirds of the votes given" should be ne- 
cessary to nominate. 

Mr. HOWARD said a case in point had arisen i* 1844, when the New York Deli 
were excluded from the Convention. The decision then was that it required two-thirds of the 
electoral vote to elect. _ . 

The PRESIDENT said the rule of the Convention of 1852 was in substance as the gentleman 
had stated. ItwM true, a rigid construction of the rule would seem to be that it alluded to 



45 

the votes cast on the ballot in this Convention. But the words are. "Two-thirds of the rotes 
given in this Convention." 

The Chair is not of opinion that the words of the rule apply to the votes east for the candi- 
date, but to the votes that are cast here, in this Convention, or two-thirds of all the votes to 
be cast by the Convention. So the Chair is of opinion that the resolution of Mr. Howard, of 
Tennessee, contemplates a change or modification of the rules of the House. Another reason 
is, that it is not competent for the Chair to construe a rule, when it is proposed by a vote of 
the House to decide its construction. The effect of the resolution of the gentleman from Ten- 
nessee, if adopted, will be to direct the President that in the votes to be cast under his in- 
spection, he shall make only such a decision as to the nomination as the resolution dictates. 
The resolution of the gentleman from Tennessee is, therefore, in order. 

.Mr. STUART appealed from the decision. 

The vote was announced as follows: 



Yeas. Nays. 

Maine 3 5 

New Hampshire 1 4 

Vermont ' 5 

Massachusetts 5>} 3£ 

Rhodelsland 4 

Connecticut 2\ 3 

New York 35~ 

New Jersey 5| lj 

Pennsylvania Iff 9£ 

Delaware 2 

Maryland., 6 '2 

Virginia 15 

North Carolina 10 

South Carolina 1 

Georgia 

Florida 

Alabama 



Yeas. Nays. 

Louisiana [ J. 6 

Mississippi u 

Texas 

Arkansas .' 

Missouri 4l 4£ 

Tennessee 11 1 

Kentucky 11] i. 

Ohio * 23 

Indiana '.. 13 

Illinois 11 

Michigan 6 

Wisconsin 5 

Iowa 4' 

Minnesota 1 2£ 

California... 4 

Oregon 3 -0 

144 108 



The previous question was then ordered, and the vote being called by States, Mr. Howard' 
resolution was adopted by the following vote: 



Yeas. Nays. 

Maine '.. 3 5 

New Hampshire 5 

Vermont 5 

Massachusetts 8£ 4l 

Rhodelsland o" i 

Connecticut 2k 3$ 

NewYork 35" 

New Jersey 5^ li 

Pennsylvania ITS 9-|- 

Delaware 2 

Maryland 6 2 

Virginia 15 

North Carolina 10 

Soufh-Carolina 1 

Georgia'...! 

Florida 

Alabama # 0" 



Yeas. 

Louisiana ■. 

Mississippi 

Texas 

Arkansas 

Missouri 2\ 

Tennessee 11 

Kentucky 11 

Ohio 

Indiana 

Illinois 

Michigan 

Wisconsin 

Iowa 

Minnesota ij 

California ■ 4 

Oregon 3 

141 



Nays. 



1 

% 

1 

1 
23 
13 

11 
6 
5 

4 

%\ 




112 



Mr. BIGLER moved to consider the vote, and that the motion be laid on the table. 

Mr. McCOOK, of Ohio. The Convention having adopted the resolution, that it would now 
proceed to ballot, I now call for the execution of that resolution, and for the calling of the 
rolls of States. 

Mr. PATRICK. Is it in order to make nominations? 

Mr. CALDWELL, of Kentucky, said his recollection of the Cincinnati Convention was that 
nominations were made there. Kentucky, therefore, desired to present to the Convention her 
favorite son and incorruptible statesman, James Guthrie. [Applause.] 

Mr. PATRICK, of California, desired to put in nomination a gentleman whose name is the 



46 

first choice of the Pacific States, the honorable statesman, Daniel S. Dickinson, of New York. 
[Applause.] 

Mr. RUSSELL, of Virginia. I am desired by the Delegates of the State of Virginia to offer 
the name of the Hon. Robert M. T. Hunter, of Virginia. [Applause.] 

Mr. SWING, of Tennessee. The Democracy of Tennessee have requested their Delegates to 
put in nomination the Hon. Andrew Johnson, of Tennessee. 

Mr. STEVENS, of Oregon. I desire to place before the Convention the name of Gen. Joe 
Lane, of Oregon. 

The first vote was then declared, and was (202 votes being necessary to a choice) as fol- 
lows: 

FIRST BALLOT. 

Douglas 145* I Dickinson 7 

Hunter « 42 | Lane C 

Guthrie >*.£"' 35* I Toucey 2* 

Johnson 12 | Davis l| 

Pierce j 1 

The PRESIDENT. No clfoiM having been made, the Convention will again proceed to vote. 

The second was then taken, and resulted as follows: 

SECOND BALLOT. 

Douglas 147 I Dickinson 6j 

Hunter 41 J | Lane 6* 

Guthrie 36$ I Toucey. 2* 

Johnson 12 | Davis 1 

No choice being made, the roll of States was again called, and the third vote resulted as fol- 
lows: 

THIRD BALLOT. 



Douglas 148* 

Guthrie , 42 

Hunter 36 



Johnson ». 12 

Dickinson 6A 

Lane 6" 



Davis 1 

There being no choice, a fourth vote was takeu, with the following result: 

FOURTH BALLOT. 



Douglas 149 

Hunter 411 

Guthrie 37* 



Johnson 12 

Lane 6" 

Dickinson ... 5 



\ 



Davis 1 

The Convention immediately proceeded to a fifth vote, which resulted as follows: 



FIFTH BALLOT. 



Douglas 149* 

Hunter 41 

Guthrie 37*. 



Johnson 12 

Lane 6 

Dickinson 5 



Davis 1 

Mr. GITTINGS, of Maryland, moved to adjourn. Lost. 
The roll was called for a sixth vote, with the following result: 



SIXTH BALLOT. 



Douglas 149* 

Guthrie 39* 

Hunter 36 



Johnson 12 

Lane 7 

Dickinson 3 



Davis 1 



■47 

The seventh vote was then taken, and resulted as follows: 

SEVENTH BALLOT. 



Douglas 150} 

Hunter 41 

Guthrie 38*_ 



Johnson 11 

Lane 6 

Dickinson 4 



Davis 1 

The eighth ballot resulted as follows: 



EIGHTH BALLOT. 



Douglas 1504 

Hunter 40* 

Guthrie 38* 



Johnson 11 

Lane 6 

Dickinson... 4* 



Davis 1 



NINTH BALLOT. 



Douglas 150} 

Guthrie 41* 

Hunter 33* 



Johnson 12 

Lane 6 

Davis U 



Dickinson 1 

TENTH BALLOT. 



Douglas 150* 

Guthrie 39$ 

Hunter 39 

Davis 

Mr. McCOOK moved to adjourn. Lost. 
The eleventh vote resulted as follows: 



Johnson 12 

Lane * f>| 

Dickinson 4 



ELEVENTH BALLOT. 



Johnson... 
Lane 

Dickinson. 



Douglas 150* 

Guthrie 39$ 

Hunter 38 

Davis > lj 

Moved to adjourn. Lost. 

The twelfth ballot resulted as follows: 

TWELFTH BALLOT. 

Douglas 150*_ I Johnson 12 

Guthrie 39$ Lane 6$ 

Hunter 38 | Dickinson 4 

Davis 1$ 

On motion of Mr. RICHARDSON, of Illinois, the Convention then adjourned till 10 o'clock 
to-morrow. * 



48 



NINTH DAY, 



MORNING SESSION. 

Charlbstok, May 2, 1860. 
The opening prayer was delivered by the Rev. Mr. Kekdrick. 

The roll of States was calls-' for the thirteenth ballot, (202 votes bein^ necessary to a choicee, ) 
which resulted as follows. ' ,« ,". 

THIRTHKNTH BALLOT. 

Douglas ;'...'. ' ....149$ I Hunter 28$ 

Guthrie 39$ Johnson 12 

Lane 20 | Dickinson 1 

Davis 1$ 

FOURTEENTH BALLOT. 



Douglas '. 150 

Guthrie 41 

Dickinson $ 

Davis 



Hunter... 
Johnson. 
Lane 



.27 
.12 
• 20J 
. 1 



FIFTEENTH BALLOT. 

Douglas i 150 I Hunter 26i 

Guthrie 41 J Johnson 12 

Dickinson % \ Lane 20i 

Davi3 1 

SIXTEENTH BALLOT. 



Douglas 150 

Guthrie 42 

Dickinson $ 

Davis 



Hunter 20 

Johnson 12 

Lane 20$ 

, 1 



SEVENTEENTH BALLOT. 



Douglas 150 

Guthrie 42 

Dickinson $ 

Davis 



Hunter 26 

Johnson 12 

Lane 20$ 

1 



::ir,n.THENTH BALLOT. 



Douglas.... 
Guthrie.... 
Dickinson . 
Davis 



.150 
■ 41* 
. 1 



Hunter 20 

Johnson 12 

Lane 20$ 

1 



NINETEENTH BALLOT. 



Douglas.... 
Guthrie.... 
Dickinson . 
Davi9 



.150 
. 41$ 
. 1 



Hunter 26 

Johnson 12 

Lane 20* 

1 



48 



TWSimBTH BALLOT. 



Douglas 150 

Guthrie 42 

Dickinson $ 

Davis 



Hunter 26 

Johnson 12 

Lane 20$ 

1 



TWENTY-FIRST BALLOT. 



Douglas.... 
Guthrie 
Dickinson . 
Davis 



Hunter 26 

Johnson 12 

Lane 20A 

r 



TWENTY-SECOND BALLO? 

'Douglas . » 150$ | Hunter ' • 26 

Guthrie '. 41$ Johnson .»*.' 12 

Dickinson ! $ | Lane '...,'..; 204 

Davis 1 

TWENTY-THIRD BALLOT. 



Douglas 152i 

Guthrie 41 % 

Dickinson % 



Hunter .. .....25 

Johnson 12 

Lane 19$ 



Davis : .*. 1 

Before this ballot was declared, Mr. RUSSELL, of Virginia, said he had been requested to 
cast the vote of the State of Virginia, fourteen for one candidate, and one for another. This 
he had declined to do. He desired to state the facts to the Convention with calmness, and to 
leave the decision in their hands. 

Gov. TODD, of Ohio, (temporarily in the chair,) said that his mind was entirely clear on 
this question. The rule of the Convention was, that unless the State had provided or directed 
how the vote should be cast, each delegate shall have the right to cast his individual vote. 
He therefore decided that the delegates had the right to cast their individual votes; 

TWENTY-FOURTH BALLOT. 



Douglas .. 1513 

Guthrie 4l| 

Dickinson \\ 

Davis 



Hunter 2ft 

Johnson 12 

Lane 19$ 

L 



TWENTY-FIFTH BALLOT. 



Douglas 151$ 

Guthrie 41 

Dickinson 1$ 

Davis . 



Hunter 36 

Johnson 12 

Lane 9$ 

1 



In this ballot North Carolina changed her ten votes from Lane to Hunter. 

TWENTY-SIXTH BALLOT. 



Douglas 151i 

Guthrie 41$ 

Dickinson 12 

Davis 



Hunter . 25 

Johnson 12 

Lane 9 



TWENTY-SEVENTH BALLOT. 



Douglas 151$ 

Guthrie : 42$ 

Dickinson 12 

Davis •. ... 



Hunter... 2 

Johnson. 12 



50 



rW^TY -EIGHTH BALLOT. 



Douglas 151$ 

Guthrie 42 

Dickinson 124 



Hunter 25 

Johnson 12 

Lane 8 



Davis 1 



rw Y.yi V-;"IMU BALLOT. 



Douglas 15U 

Guthrie 42" 

Dickinson 13 



Hunter 25 

Johnson 12 

Lane 7$ 



Davis 1 

if . 

' - V' THIRTIETH BALLOT.. 

Douglas • , 151| I Hunter 25 

Guthrie : •.. ' 45 Johnson II 

Dickinson 13 | Lane 5$ 

Davis 1 

THIRTY-FIRST BALLOT. 



Douglas 151 \ 

Guthrie 47$ 

Dickinson 3 



Hunter 32$ 

Johnson 11 

Lane b\ 



Davis * 

THIRTY-SECOND BALLOT 



Douglas 152^ 

Guthrie 47^ 

Dickinson 3 



Hunter 22i 

Johnson ll" 

Lane 14 J 



Davis 1 

THIRTY-THIRD BALLOT 



Douglas 152i 

Guthrie 47J 

Dickinson 3 



Hunter 22$ 

Johnson ll" 

Lane 14 \ 



Davis 

THIRTY-FOURTH BALLOT. 



Douglas 152* 

Guthrie 47| 

Dickinson 5 



Hunter 22$ 

Johnson 11 

Lane 12* 



Davis 1 

On motion of Mr. ASH, of North Carolina, the Convention adjourned until 5 o'clock. 

AFTERNOON SESSION. 

The Convention re-assembled at 5 o'clock, and the roll of States was at on«e called for the 
thirty-fifth ballot, with the following result: 

THIRTY-FIFTH BALLOT. 



Douglas 152 

Guthrie 47 J 

Dickinson >ll 

Davis 



Hunter 22 

Johnson 12 

Lane 13 

1 



51 

THIRTY-SIXTH BALLOT. 

Douglas 151 A- i Hunter 22 

Guthrie 48' Johnson 12 

Dickinson 4£ | Lane '.3 

Davis 1 

The vote of Arkansas having been cast for John C. Breckinridge in this ballot, 

Mr. RECK, of Kentucky, asked that the vote might be withdrawn. On the part of Mr. 
Breckinridge he desired to say that it was not the desire of that gentlemauthat his name should 
be used in opposition to the distinguished gentlemen now in nomination. The vote was with- 
drawn. 

When the vote was announced — 

Mr. EW1NG, of Tennessee, said that the Tennessee Delegation had presented a name for the 
nomination. Mr. Johnson. They now desired to withdraw tliat name, and to express the hope 
that a nomination might be made. 

THIRTY-SEVENTH BALLOT. 



Douglas 15l£ I Hunter... 

Guthrie 64| Johnson. 

Dickinson 5| | Lane 

Davis " 



THIRTY-EIGHTH BALLOT. 

Douglas 15U | Dickinson 5| 

Guthrie 66* | Hunter 16 

Lane g 13 

Mr. G1TTINGS moved to adjourn, to meet at Baltimore oh the first Monday in Jane- 
Mr. STUART moved to lay the resolution on the table. Carried. 
The thirty-ninth vote was then taken with the following result: 

THIRTY-NINTH BALLOT. 

Douglas 151$ I Dickinson . 5| 

Guttrie 66| [ Hunter 16 

Lane '. 12f 

FORTIETH BALLOT. 

Douglas . 15U I Dickinson gf 

Guthrie 66"- [Hunter 1?. 

Lane , 12 J 

FORTY-FIRST BALLOT. 

Douglas 1514 | Dickinson 5 

Guthrie 66| | Hunter 16 

Lane ". 13 

FORTY-SECOND BALLOT. 



Douglas 151 J 1 Dickinson 

Guthrie 66| j Hunter .... 

Lane , 



FORTY-THIRD BALLOT. 



Douglas S51" 

Guthrie..... 65^ 

Dickinson <<.<... .i.<i..t/..i„...j.<mj<i.....> if 



Hunter 18 

Lane.. IS 

Du.«- f LSOn..-..'. iM.lwU.rt .t i.^Mi^i,. 1 



FORTY-FOURTH BALLOT. 



Douglas 1513 

Guthrie 65^ 

Dickinson 5 



Hunter. 
Lane.... 
Davis... 



FORTY-FIFTH BALLOT. 



Douglas 151* 

Guthrie 65* 

Dickinson 5 



Hunter. 
Lane.... 
Davis... 



FORTY-SIXTH BALLOT. 



Douglas.... 
Guthrie.... 
Dickinson. 



151* 

5 



Hunter. 
Lane.... 
Davis... 



FORTY-SEVENTH BALLOT. 



Douglas 151? 

Guthrie 65£ 

Dickinson 5 



Hunter. 
Lane.... 
Davis... 



FORTY-EIGHTH BALLOT. 



Douglas .• 151* 

Guthrie 65* 

Dickinson 5 



Hunter. 
Lane... 
Davis.. 



FORTY-NINTH BALLOT. 



Douglas 151 J I Hunter. 

Guthrie 59* Lane.... 

Dickinson 4 Davis... 



FIFTIETH BALLOT. 



Douglas 151* 

Guthrie 65* 

Dickinson 4 



Hunter. 
Lane. .. 
Davis... 



Douglas 151+ 

Guthrie * 65* 

Dickinson 4 



FTFTY-FIRST BALLOT. 

Hunter.. 



Davis 

FTY-SECOND BALLOT. 



Douglas ... 
Guthrie ..., 
Dickinson. 



. 151* 
.. 65} 

4 



Hunter. 
Lane.... 
Davis... 



KTFTY-TEIRD BALLOT . 



Douglas ... 
Gntnrie...., 

Kfckinson. 



151*1 Hunter 16 

65i Lane 14 

I ! Davis., . ! 



si 



FIFTT-FOURTH BALLOT. 



Douglas fc . 151 J 

Guthrie 61 

Dickinson 16 



Hunter. 
Lane.... 

Davis... 



20£ 

14 

1 



FIFTY-FIFTH BALLOT. 



Douglas 15l£ 

Guthrie 65^ 

Dickinson 14 



Hunter. 
Lane.... 
Davis... 



FIFTY-SIXTH BALLOT. 



Douglas ... 15lj 

Guthrie 65| 

Dickinson 4 



Hunter. 
Lane.... 
Davis... 



FIFTY-SEVENTH BALLOT. 



Douglas 151| 

Guthrie 65| 

Dickinson ' 4 



Hunter. 
Lane.... 
Davis... 



Mr. GITTINGS moved to adjourn till the 1st Monday in June. 
Mr. STUART moved to lay the motion on the table. Carried. 
On motion of Mr. ASH, of North Carolina, the Convention adjourned till 10 to-morrow. 



TENTH DAY. 

Cmni.ESTON, May 3. 

The Convention was called to order at 10 o'clock. 

Mr. RUSSELL, of Va., made an explanation with regard to the Tennessee compromise re- 
solutions, and offered tl e following resolution: 

Resolved, That when this convention adjourns to-day it adjourn to meet in Baltimore on the 
18th day of June, in order to afford the States that are not now represented an opportunity to 
fill up their delegations 

Mr. MASON, of Ky., ra./.. ; loint of order that the resolution must lie over one day under 
the rules. ••• • 

The PRESIDENT deck . •"•the resolution was in order. 

A motion w" s made amj . j ."'. to suspend the balloting. The vote was aves 199, nays 57. 

A delegate . >m Tp.^dp cl .,«. /ca to strike out Baltimore and insert Philadelphia. 

Mr. RANDALL moved an amendment substituting Philadelphia as the place, and the 4th of 
July as the time. 

Mr LUDLOW, of New York, moved to insert New York. Rejected. 

Mr. RANDALL'S substitute was also rejected by yeas 88, nays 16G, and the original 
resolution to meet at Baltimore on the 18th of June adopted by yeas* 166, nays 88. 

Mr. STUART, of Michigan, moved that the convention adjourn. 

Gen. SPRATT proposed three cheers for the national Democratic party, which were given en- 
thusiastically. 

Mr. MILES, of Md., hoped arrangements would be made for printing the official proceed- 
ings. 

Mr. CUSHING, the President, then addressed the Convention, remarking that notwithstand- 
ing the deep and conflicting interests involved, he might say that no convention ha ving such 
immense interests at stake ever sat for so great a length of time with the observance of so great 
a share of order and freedom from personalities or offensive language. He had endeavored 
most impartially and honestly to fulfil the duties of the Chair, and if in the excitement of the 
moment he had been led to use any abrupt language to gentlemen, he humbly apologized. 

He regarded this Convention as not only having in its destiny the permanence of the Dem- 
ocratic party, but the question whether these United States should continue and endure. lie 
would not, however, relinquish the hope that the Union would continue on to eternity, ami 
he felt confident the Convention would adjourn to-day with the determination to do all in 
their power to restore harmony and confidence. 

Mr. BRENT, of Baltimore, extended a cordial invitation to the Democracy of the Union to 
accept the hospitalities of that city. 

The Convention then adjourned, about one o'clock. 



' am 

c > ( 

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c<c<ar 

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done 

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